Evers’ plan, however, would align Wisconsin with a handful of other states where independent commissions draw the lines. The proposal is similar to those in previous Democratic bills to establish nonpartisan redistricting in the state. It comes after a Marquette Law School Poll released in January found 72 percent of Wisconsin voters support nonpartisan redistricting.

Evers’ proposal would give responsibility for drawing political boundaries to an existing state agency, the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau, at the direction of a new nonpartisan Redistricting Advisory Commission. The bill would appropriate an additional $10,000 over the two-year budget cycle to the LRB. The state Legislature would still vote on the redistricting bill the LRB produces but would be restricted in the changes it could make.

The commission would consist of five members. The leader of each party in either house would get an appointment, and then the four appointees would together select a fifth member who would serve as the chairperson.