In a rare move, state senators from opposite sides of the aisle teamed up to propose legislation Friday that would ensure the redistricting process, done every ten years, is nonpartisan.
Authors Sens. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, and Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, are currently circulating the bill for co-sponsorship, which would not take affect until 2021.
The bill would let lawmakers from both parties appoint a commission that would redraw the districts. The new lines would then need to be approved by voters in a referendum and passed in two consecutive legislative sessions.
Currently, the party in control of the state legislature has the advantage in redrawing legislative and congressional districts in its favor every ten years based on federal census data.
Democrats have argued the most recent redistricting lines, passed last summer by a Republican-controlled legislature and a Republican governor, are unconstitutional.
Also, the proposal comes shortly after Republican lawmakers were ordered to release information about last year's redistricting after they attempted to keep the process secret.
