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Cameron Smith/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Marla Stephens, center, and Kris Lennon, center right, attend Maps Madness: Voters vs. Politicians, a March 7, 2018 rally organized by the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition held outside the Wisconsin state Capitol. The rally was aimed at pressuring lawmakers to hold a special session to enact a nonpartisan redistricting system. Stephens, a former candidate for state Supreme Court justice, says she believes her vote has been diluted by redistricting in the Milwaukee area.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

This series examines the state of Wisconsin’s democracy in an era of gerrymandering, secret campaign money, restrictive voting laws and legislative maneuvers that weaken the power of regular citizens to influence government. The series was reported by University of Wisconsin-Madison journalism students Cathleen Draper, Nicole Ki, Pawan Naidu, Cameron Smith, Teodor Teofilov and CV Vitolo-Haddad as part of an investigative reporting class led by Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism Managing Editor Dee J. Hall with assistance from Coburn Dukehart, the Center’s digital and multimedia director.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Photo essay: Wisconsin’s frenetic lame duck session

By Coburn Dukehart (Wisconsin Watch) and Emily Hamer (Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism) | December 5, 2018

The Legislature held an extraordinary session to push through a series of fast-tracked bills before Gov. Scott Walker leaves office.

Your Right to Know

Your Right to Know: Wisconsin lawmakers embrace secrecy, fast-tracking

By Dee J. Hall (Wisconsin Watch) | December 5, 2018

Many people in Wisconsin feel state government is moving in the wrong direction, away from the citizenry and toward the interests of politicians and their financial backers.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Last-minute surprises and secretive moves hide Wisconsin lawmakers’ actions from public view

By CV Vitolo-Haddad and Dee J. Hall/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | October 28, 2018

Anonymous budget amendments and ‘Body Snatcher’ bills give power to special interests and change the scope of legislation with no chance for public input.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Voter ID linked to lower turnout in Wisconsin, other states; students, people of color, elderly most affected

By Cameron Smith/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | September 30, 2018

The Center’s Cameron Smith explores the ways in which residents are dissuaded or prevented from voting by the photo ID requirement, which has been the subject of years of litigation, some of it still pending.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Voter fraud — what voter fraud? Studies contradict photo ID rationale

By Cameron Smith and Dee J. Hall/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | September 30, 2018

Voter impersonation — the reason voter ID laws were passed in the first place — has largely been debunked as a pervasive problem in U.S. elections, according to a summary of investigations and studies compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Secret cash aided politicians who rewrote Wisconsin law to block claims of lead-poisoned children

By Pawan Naidu / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | September 2, 2018

One advocate calls Wisconsin the ‘darkest of dark money states’ as millions in secret spending flows into races for governor, Legislature and state Supreme Court

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Wisconsin’s campaign finance system: A summary

By Pawan Naidu / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | September 2, 2018

Wisconsin might not have the most money in its elections, because there are some states with no limits at all on individual campaign contributions. But critics say it is awash in “dark money,” contributions that are not required to be reported to any governmental agency.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

After Gov. Scott Walker took office, bills moved faster through the Wisconsin Legislature

By Teodor Teofilov / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | August 19, 2018

An analysis by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism shows the proportion of fast-tracked bills shot up to 26 percent in the first session of Walker’s term

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Why we analyzed the speed of bills in the Wisconsin Legislature and what we learned

By Dee J. Hall (Wisconsin Watch) | August 19, 2018

This column is a companion to our story revealing that the length of time bills were deliberated dropped significantly soon after Gov. Scott Walker and Republican legislators took control in 2011. In this piece Center managing editor Dee J. Hall explains the origins and methodology of the analysis.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Wisconsin residents see democracy decline, reflecting national discontent with government

By Nicole Ki / Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | August 5, 2018

Extreme partisanship and approval of legislation despite widespread opposition have left Wisconsin residents feeling increasingly powerless, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism has found.

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

Public, politicians pushing Wisconsin to enact nonpartisan redistricting to strengthen democracy

By Cathleen Draper/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | June 1, 2018

Most counties have approved resolutions calling for fairer way to redraw electoral districts; does Iowa offer an effective model?

Undemocratic: Secrecy and Power vs. The People

High stakes for elections — and democracy — as U.S. Supreme Court nears decision on Wisconsin redistricting case

By Cathleen Draper/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism | June 1, 2018

Justices consider: When does partisanship cross the line?

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