Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB595

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/31/23
• Refer: 10/31/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Counting individuals confined in state prison to determine population for redistricting purposes. (FE)

Impact

The proposed legislation modifies how population counts are conducted for redistricting, potentially impacting the distribution of legislative seats across the state. By recognizing incarcerated individuals as residents of their home municipalities, the bill aims to counteract the conventional practice where such individuals are often counted in the jurisdictions of their confinement. This could lead to significant changes in how districts are shaped, particularly in urban areas where there are larger populations of incarcerated individuals.

Summary

Assembly Bill 595 aims to amend existing statutes to include individuals confined in state prisons as residents of their pre-incarceration municipalities for redistricting purposes. Specifically, the bill stipulates that individuals who registered to vote in Wisconsin prior to their confinement will be counted as residing in their home municipalities when establishing congressional and legislative districts. This change seeks to ensure that populations are reflected more accurately in political representation.

Contention

The bill has sparked debates among legislators and advocacy groups regarding its implications for political representation and the inclusion of marginalized communities. Supporters argue that it promotes fairness and accurate representation, ensuring that the voting power of communities is not diluted by the functional exclusion of their incarcerated members. Conversely, opponents raise concerns about the potential for this approach to disproportionately favor certain districts or groups, challenging the fairness of representation across the state.