By Rep. Kevin Petersen

Every 10 years the legislature receives the most recent census data from the federal government and is responsible for drawing new district boundaries adjusting to updated population changes.

As written in Article IV Section 3 of the Wisconsin State Constitution, “At its first session after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the legislature shall apportion and district anew the members of the senate and assembly, according to the number of inhabitants.”

The legislature announced a website available for public participation in the map drawing process. Any Wisconsinite can visit drawyourdistrictwisconsin.com. Included are three free web-based redistricting tools which gives participants the ability to make a full statewide map, regional plan, or draw a community of interest. Plans are then uploaded and submitted to the legislature for public input.

I invite my constituents to participate in the process by using any or all of the three redistricting tools available on the website. Maps may be submitted to the legislature through Oct. 15.