Confused by Wisconsin's new electoral maps? League of Women Voters will offer a free presentation

OSHKOSH – Fox Valley voters are about to have a better understanding of the new state Senate and Assembly districts.

Appleton-Fox Cities and Winnebago County’s League of Women Voters will co-host a free and open nonpartisan informational presentation about the new boundaries July 11 at Neenah Public Library, 240 E. Wisconsin Ave.

The move comes after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new electoral maps into law that that reshaped down-ballot races across the state of Wisconsin.

The presentation will take place in the Shattuck Room from 6:30 to 8 p.m. as members of the Fair Maps coalition explain the changes in local legislative districts and provide new and former district maps.

State legislative candidates in the Fox Valley area are also expected to make short presentations during the program ahead of the Aug. 13 primary and Nov. 5 general elections.

“We think this will be beneficial for voters to see the maps, and then we can help them locate themselves on the maps if they so need,” League of Women Voters of Winnebago County President Margy Davey said.

“It’s a marvelous thing to have fair maps to work with, but it did cause some confusion, so we wanted to educate as many voters as possible and we want to do that in every way possible.”

In December, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered the Republican-controlled state Legislature to draw new legislative boundaries ahead of the 2024 election, arguing their GOP advantage is unconstitutional.

Republicans currently control two-thirds of the Senate districts, or 22 of 33 seats, under those previous maps.

But a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of the new maps shows they will divide Wisconsin’s 33 legislative districts more evenly.

Several maps have been drastically redrawn to the point where many senators have been displaced from their previous districts and forced to seek re-election in another district.

For instance, Republican Sen. Dan Feyen is now vying for Senate District 20 after his hometown of Fond du Lac was drawn out of the new District 18.

The newly redrawn District 18 has now thrown Oshkosh in with Neenah, Menasha and most of the city of Appleton after the old map previously placed Oshkosh with more rural areas like Omro, Waupun and Fond du Lac.

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