CONTACT: DOA Communications, DOACommunications@wisconsin.gov

 

MADISON – Today, the People’s Maps Commission announced Katie Fahey and Michael Li will provide expert testimony to the Commission during the online virtual public hearing on Jan. 28, 2021, beginning at 5:30 pm.

Fahey is the founder and executive director of The People, an organization that aims to support Americans in finding common ground and empower individuals to get involved in the political process. Li serves as senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where his work focuses on redistricting, voting rights, and elections. More information about the expert speakers is available HERE.

Following the experts’ presentations, Wisconsin residents have the opportunity to provide public comment to commission members regarding how they have been impacted by legislative redistricting and share their ideas for how Wisconsin can work together to achieve fair maps. Anyone wishing to testify at a hearing must register in advance by visiting the People’s Maps Commission website HERE . The deadline for registering to comment during this hearing is 5:30 p.m. Tues., Jan. 26, 2021. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority to residents of Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.  

Although the Jan. 28th hearing will focus on the 7th Congressional District, all Wisconsin residents are encouraged to watch and participate. The hearing will be live-streamed on the Department of Administration’s YouTube Channel HERE.

For anyone unable to join online, written comments are strongly encouraged. All written comments can be submitted at any time using the feedback form available on the People’s Maps Commission website HERE. Written comments will be reviewed by the commissioners and are public record. 

Selected by a three–judge panel, the Commission is a nine-member nonpartisan redistricting commission charged with drawing fair, impartial maps for Wisconsin. More information about the Commission, its members, and its activities is available HERE.  

Every 10 years, each state redraws their legislative and congressional district maps using data from the decennial census. In addition to the data from the 2020 U.S. Census, the Commission will use the information gathered during the public hearing process to prepare new maps. It is then up to the Legislature to take up and approve the maps created by the Commission. 

Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the People’s Maps Commission will host the public hearings online for each of Wisconsin’s congressional districts. Agendas and additional details will be announced in advance of future meeting dates. The hearing dates are as follows:  

  • Thursday, January 28th – 7th Congressional District
  • Thursday, February 11 – 1st Congressional District
  • Thursday, February 25th - 6th Congressional District
  • Thursday, March 11 – 2nd Congressional District

 Individuals interested in watching previous hearings can find the recordings HERE. 
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