Rep. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) | File Photo
Rep. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) | File Photo
Republican lawmakers are working to ensure that the state's redistricting process, which occurs every 10 years after the census, is as independent of Illinois legislators as possible.
Republicans proposed the People's independent Maps Act in both the House and Senate, which would place citizens mostly in charge of the redrawing political district maps.
"The People's Independent Maps Act will ensure that politicians, including Gov. Pritzker, keep their promise to the people of Illinois to support an independent redistricting map," Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) said in the GOP release. "Under the current process, which was used by Democrats 10 years ago, voters have had fewer choices and the legislature is more unbalanced than ever. The legislation moves Illinois from a broken system where politicians choose their voters to a process where the people choose their politicians."
Chicago Business reported that public2020 polls have shown that over three-quarters of the state's voters support the idea of an independent group of citizens deciding how the borders should fall in Illinois' legislative map over politicians. Under current state law, the legislature has until June 30 to draw and approve a new map.
The act is a near-duplicate to a 2019 bill introduced by a Democratic senator also calling for an independent redistricting commission. That bill, SJRCA 0004, saw bipartisan support across the legislature with 18 Democratic and 19 Republican co-sponsors.
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