Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today led a coalition of 18 state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in support of the voters of Wisconsin in Gill v Whitford. The case stems from an appeal by the State of Wisconsin, challenging a 2016 decision that Wisconsin’s redistricting plan was unconstitutional. In the brief, the attorneys general argue that extreme gerrymandering in redistricting harms fair elections in the United States.

“Oregon has been a pioneer of fair elections, vote by mail, and making sure that all voters get a chance to make their voices heard, but we must also make sure we protect how our voting districts are drawn. Here, America’s highest court needs to weigh in to help ensure that the most egregious examples of partisan gerrymandering around the country are kept in check, while also respecting the constitutional process of redistricting.”

In the brief the Attorneys General write:

“Intentional partisan entrenchment—that is, deliberately drawing districts for the sole purpose of keeping one party in power for the long term, and without any neutral justification for the result—has no place in our political system. It discourages voter participation, increases distrust of government, and reduces the responsiveness of elected representatives. Technological advances have made it easier than ever for mapmakers to draw district lines solely to maximize the political power of a particular party.”

The states that filed today’s amicus brief include: Oregon, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Contact:

Kristina Edmunson, Department of Justice, Kristina.Edmunson@doj.oregon.gov, 503-378-6002​​