McHenry Times

State Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) is leading the charge for the creation an independent commission to handle the job of map redistricting.

“Every Illinoisan deserves to be represented in our democracy," McConchie told WMBD News. “An independent map drawn by the people for the people and not by politicians for politicians is really the best way to have their voices heard.”

McConchie said the answer is the creation of the People’s Independent Maps Act now being proposed by Republican lawmakers. The measure would grant Illinois Supreme Court members the power to appoint 16 “independent citizen commissioners,” within 30 days of the bill passing into law. That panel would then supervise redistricting.

“The act is about ensuring that those who are in charge of the state government keep their promise to the people of Illinois when it comes to supporting an independent map,” McConchie told the Sun-Times.

Due to a delay in federal Census Bureau data being available largely because of COVID-19, Republican lawmakers are making no secret of their desire to have more of a say in a process that only comes around once every decade.

While the task normally goes to the party in control, the state constitution currently dictates that if a new map is not completed by a June 30 deadline, a bipartisan commission with four members from each party chosen by party leaders will handle redistricting.

Illinois has long been known for its history of gerrymandering, which many critics argue leaves voters with a muted say in who comes to represent them, and can often lead to corruption in government.