Today the Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate standing in the case of Gill v. Whitford, a case which challenged the state of Wisconsin’s assembly map as an example of partisan gerrymandering. The court is sending this case back to the district court to give the plaintiffs a chance to demonstrate that they have suffered “concrete and particularized injuries.”
“Today’s decision is yet another delay in providing voters with the power they deserve in our democracy,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “Partisan gerrymandering is distorting and undermining our representative democracy, giving politicians the power to choose their voters, instead of giving voters the power to choose their politicians. We are disappointed that the Court failed to set a standard when it comes to partisan gerrymandering.”
The League filed an amicus brief in this case arguing that partisan gerrymandering violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
“We believe the Wisconsin maps deny many citizens the full power of the vote and should be redrawn,” said Erin Grunze, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. “The current redistricting process protects the party in power — whichever party it is — and is not an open and transparent process. Wisconsin lawmakers need to be held accountable to voters and support legislation in the interest of fairness and democracy.”
“Partisan gerrymandering is a problem, it is wrong, and the League of Women Voters will continue to fight for equal representation through fair maps that furthers democracy by empowering voters,” said Carson.
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