Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: U.S. Supreme Court takes up key case about partisan redistricting

Date

The plaintiffs say the Wisconsin Legislature used “cracking” and “packing” in 2011 to give Republicans an advantage. “Cracking” divides registered voters of one party among several districts to dilute their voting power. “Packing” groups them into a single district so their voting power is reduced in neighboring districts.

State legislatures have long used those techniques to the advantage of the controlling political party, and the effects have become more pronounced.

“Partisan politicians of both parties, along with special interests, have rigged the system using precision technology to manipulate voting maps to keep their own political party in power with little regard to the will of the voters,” said Gerry Hebert, executive director of the Campaign Legal Center, which represents the plaintiffs.

Read the full article