Redistricting Scenarios Proposed for Ho-Chunk Nation Special Election

By Ho-Chunk Legislature



On October 12, 2018, a Special Election will take place for eligible voters of the Ho-Chunk Nation to select new boundaries for their Legislative Districts.  The Ho-Chunk Nation Election Board will conduct this Special Election at various polling sites and has posted a notice with relevant information.  The Special Election is taking place to fulfill the requirement in Article V, Section 4 of the Ho-Chunk Constitution, that a Special Election be held at least once every ten years, in pursuit of one-person/one-vote representation. 

Voters will have three choices to consider with the proposed Redistricting Scenarios.  The Legislature approved a final redistricting proposal on July 16, 2018 by resolution, consisting Redistricting Scenarios 4, 6 and 10.  Once the three Redistricting Scenarios were approved, they were provided to the Election Board to conduct a Special Election. 

 Redistricting Scenarios 4, 6 and 10 were selected by the Legislature for a variety of reasons.  For example, in pursuit of the constitutional concept of “one-person, one-vote,” the Legislature chose these scenarios based on their percentages of tribal member representation in each new district, as compared to the number of Legislators representing each district.  Also, the Legislature had in mind the interest of representation of tribal members by ensuring that no single district would have only one Legislator.  These proposed scenarios also help to sustain Ho-Chunk culture, tradition, and community affinities by promoting boundaries that encourage such connections.  Moreover, these scenarios were also chosen because they feature districts that are internally contiguous.  

 The Ho-Chunk Election Board will conduct the Special Election consistent with the Nation’s Constitution and Election Code.  Since the Election Code requires that an Implementation Plan for each Redistricting Scenario be provided, this Special Edition includes the Implementation Plan for proposed Redistricting Scenario 4, 6, and 10. 

 Notable aspects of each Redistricting Scenario include the following: 

 Scenario #4:  The only change to the existing Districts in Scenario #4 is that the new District 3 is essentially the current District 3 and 4.  Please see maps included.  Otherwise, District 1 and District 2 remain the same.  The new District 4 is the same as current District 5, but is simply re-numbered.  The total number of Legislators would remain at thirteen.  There would only be four Legislative Districts, but all tribal members retain representation. 

 Scenario #6:  This Scenario increases the total number of Legislators from thirteen (currently) to fourteen, by adding one Legislator to District 4.  This means that the new District 4 would be represented by two Legislators.  Also, the new District 4 would increase in size and take in two counties from District 2 and several counties from District 3.  The boundaries of new District 1 would change by moving some counties in the North Eastern part of the State to the new District 3.  The new District 2 would change by moving two counties into the new District 4 and accepting one county from District 3.  As noted, the new District 3 would take in some counties formerly in District 1, but also move several counties into the new District 4 and 2.  The new District 5 would include the same geographic territory and representation as it does currently.   There would remain five Legislative Districts under Scenario #6, and all tribal members retain representation. 

 Scenario #10:  Under Redistricting Scenario #10, there would remain thirteen Legislators.  However, the Districts would be numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4.  There would be four Legislative Districts, but all tribal members retain representation.  The new District 4 would be the existing District 5 and include the same geographic territory.  The new District 3 would include counties in the South Eastern part of the State (within existing District 4), but also encompass counties within the current District 3.  However, the new District 3 would now include two counties from District 2.  The new District 3 would also move one county to the new District 2 and the new District 1.  The new District 2 would change by moving two counties into the new District 3 and accepting one county from District 3.  Lastly, the new District 1 would only change by accepting one county from District 3. 

 The Legislature encourages tribal members to review the Redistricting Scenarios and included maps in advance of the Special Election on October 12, 2018. 



Home