SUPCO ruling on redistricting marks the beginning of the fight, not the end

The fight is not over. The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to fair elections in Wisconsin by sending the case back to the lower courts. At issue is the drawing of legislative boundaries every ten years which determines in which legislative district people vote. The lawsuit argued, and lower courts agreed, that the process of drawing the maps was overly partisan and unconstitutional. But the high court essentially punted, leaving it to the lower courts to decide. It is important to point out that the court did not say the current maps are fine, and Wisconsin continues to have the dishonor of having some of the most partisan and gerrymandered political boundaries in the country. The legal fight will likely continue, but that shouldn’t stop lawmakers in Madison from righting this wrong. Our lawmakers, regardless of what the courts have decided or not decided, have the power to draw maps that are fair for everyone. They could draw new maps that don’t make it nearly impossible for candidates from one party to win elected office. They could as other states have done, take the job away from the majority party and give it to an independent commission so it is free from politics. And voters can play a role by electing candidates who pledge to draw maps that allow voters to choose their candidates, rather than the candidates choosing them. This ruling is a blow to a return to fair elections, but it seems the real fight is just beginning.