Legislative Redistricting in Wisconsin, Part 2: Introduction (Repeated from Part 1) and the 132 State Districts

All documents cited and provided as screenshots in this series of blogposts are available here.

As is done every 10 years, the lines of legislative districts have been redrawn for all of us -- at all 4 levels of representation.  Legislation creating these redistricting plans has been passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed by the Governor, although both Acts 44 and 43 are subject to a lawsuit in federal court.

• Federal  (2011 Wisconsin Act 44)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. This bill redistricts, according to the number of inhabitants, the congressional districts of this state based on the results of the 2010 federal decennial census of population. In accordance with that census, the bill maintains the number of congressional districts at eight. All districts created under the bill are composed of whole counties or municipalities or U.S. census tracts or blocks (subunits of tracks) reflecting population and boundaries as of April 1, 2010. 
• State (2011 Wisconsin Act 43)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. This bill redistricts, according to the number of inhabitants, the legislative districts of this state based on the results of the 2010 federal decennial census of population. The bill maintains the number of assembly districts at 99 and the number of senate districts at 33. All assembly districts created by the bill are composed of whole counties or municipalities or U.S. census tracts or blocks (subunits of tracts) reflecting population and boundaries as of April 1, 2010. In accordance with article IV, section 5, of the state constitution, no assembly district created under the bill is divided in the creation of a senate district. 
• County (2011 Wisconsin Act 39)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. 
• The bill requires municipal ward plans, and the aldermanic and supervisory districts upon which they are based, to reflect municipal boundaries on April 1 of the year of each federal decennial census. Currently, ward plans must reflect municipal boundaries on August 1 of the year following the year of the federal decennial census. 
• The change applies retroactively to ward plans and aldermanic and supervisory districts created in response to the 2010 federal decennial census.
• The bill also amends the laws governing municipal ward division to ensure that if municipal wards do not accommodate a congressional or legislative redistricting  act on its date of enactment, the affected municipalities must change their wards so that their ward divisions enable the election of members of congress and members of the legislature under the redistricting act. Currently, the laws only partially accommodate this process. 
• Local  (2011 Wisconsin Act 39; i.e, covered in same bill same as county redistricting.)

Wisconsin's 33 Senate districts and 
99 Assembly districts.

As I mentioned in a previous post on the topic of redistricting, this is the level of representation where we'll need to make the most adjustments to the Wisconsin Library Association's advocacy efforts and relationship building.

Let me use my own case in a series of step-by-step examples.  (Keep in mind that not everyone will experience my situation.  Many Wisconsin residents will retain their current Senate and Assembly representation.)

Fred Risser has been my state Senator since my wife and I moved to Middleton in June 1986.

LINK to Wisconsin State Senators homepages.

Click on District Map.to see the current boundaries of the 26th Senate District.  (Or you can just look at the screenshot provided here.)

A close-up shows you that the 26th takes in a portion of the City of Middleton, including the neighborhood where Retiring Guy lives.

Although Sen. Risser, currently the longest serving state legislator in the United States, is up for re-election in November 2012, I will not be voting for him.  Or, more accurately, I won't be able to vote for him.  As a result of 2011 Wisconsin Act 43, no part of the City of Middleton is now located in the reconfigured 26th Senate District, which will look like this as of next year.  (Barring any successful court challenges.)

Note:  Maps found at arrow provide best detail.  (Use arrow keys to navigate.)

Close-up.  Retiring Guy has been moved to the 27th Senate District.

Meet my new State Senator.

Current boundaries of 27th Senate District.  Jon Erpenbach currently represents the southeast section of the City of Middleton.

The reconfigured 27th.  As shown above, Jon will represent all of the City of Middleton.

The same goes for Retiring Guy's Assembly representation.

Goodbye, Brett Hulsey.

Current boundaries.

Reconfigured boundaries.  Retiring Guy is now in the 79th Assembly District.

Hello Sondy Pope-Roberts.

Here are the current boundaries of the 79th Assembly District, the green arrow pointing to Sondy's voting address.

Here's the reconfigured 79th.  Compare the 2 maps.  The only parts of her former district that Sondy retains are the City and Town of Middleton and the northwest section of the Town of Verona.  If she decides to run in the 79th in November 2012, she'll have a whole new group of voters to introduce herself to in a very sprawling district.  (Red arrow points to location of Sondy's voting address.)

Please note that the "Who Are My Legislators" website has  not yet been updated to reflect the reconfigured boundaries.  [Updated as of 12/1/2011/]

Here's the result of  my voting address search.

Now you have the "tools" to determine your state Senate and Assembly districts under the new redistricting plan.  The Library Development & Legislation Committee will look to SRLAAW and CUWL, among other groups, for assistance in getting a sense of how much new relationship building will be required to maintain and build upon WLA's advocacy efforts.