http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voter-primaries-s5.jpgHearing to feature 2nd Congressional District. Commissioners to hear testimony on the legal aspects of redistricting.

MADISON – Today, the People's Maps Commission announced Norman Eisen of the Brookings Institute will provide expert testimony to the Commission during the online virtual public hearing March 11, 2021, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Eisen is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and an expert on law, ethics, and anti-corruption. He most recently served as special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2020. He currently provides pro bono legal representation for the Voter Protection Program through his law firm, Eisen PLLC. Previous to this work, Eisen worked in the White House as special counsel and special assistant to the president for ethics and government reform. The press dubbed him “Mr. No” and the "Ethics Czar" for his tough anti-corruption approach.

Following the Eisen's testimony, 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 March 9 at 5pm. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority to residents of Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District.

Although the March 11 hearing will focus on the 2nd 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, March 11 - 2nd Congressional District

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