Fair Elections Project Applauds Judicial Panel’s Selections for the People’s Maps Commission

MADISON—The Fair Elections Project, Wisconsin’s leading group fighting gerrymandering, reacted positively to the announcement yesterday of the members of the People’s Maps Commission.

“These citizens are charged with holding hearings, taking public input, and drawing new proposed maps in a public and transparent manner, in direct contrast to the rigged and corrupt process used by legislative leadership 10 years ago,” said Holly Bland, deputy director of the Fair Elections Project. “It is our hope the Legislature takes heed and supports the drawing of maps in sunlight rather than darkness.”

The application process for the commission began in July, and appointees were selected by a panel of three retired judges—Justice Janine Geske, Judge Joseph Troy, and Judge Paul Higginbotham. The nine members were selected from a pool of 270 eligible applicants, none of whom could be lobbyists, political candidates, state or local officials, or officers or members of the governing body of a political party.

The commission will hold its first public hearing in October, the first of at least eight upcoming virtual hearings across the state to hear from experts and local leaders. The commission will use this information to prepare a map for the Legislature’s consideration.