A Milwaukee-based Latino nonprofit filed a lawsuit Monday against the Government Accountability Board, arguing Wisconsin's new legislative redistricting plan unlawfully dilutes the voting strength of Latinos in Milwaukee's south side.
The new law, which took effect in August, changes Wisconsin's legislative district lines based on the 2010 census. District lines change every 10 years, and Republicans who supported the changes said they were in need of updating.
But according to Voces de La Frontera's lawsuit, the new district lines violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which protects minority voting rights. According to the group, it abridges the right of Latinos to participate in the political process.
Voces De La Frontera Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz said in a statement the increase in Milwaukee's Latino population makes it large enough to support a single assembly district in which Latinos would have a majority.
"The Walker redistricting plan reduces that potential majority to just over 40 percent, and demonstrates intent to deprive Milwaukee's Latino community of a voting majority by dividing and diluting our community's vote" Nuemann-Ortiz said.
Even though Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature created and approved the legislation, Peter Earle, the lawyer representing VDLF, said in an e-mail they are suing the GAB because "that body is charged with conducting elections in the legislative districts adopted by state law."
"They didn't create the map, but they are charged with implementing it, so we are suing them in order to enjoin the process and block the state from conducting elections with the new districts," he said.
-Jacob Riederer
