McHenry Times

As state lawmakers work to redraw district maps, House and Senate Republicans are calling for reforms to make the process more fair for residents.

Republican lawmakers are urging for amendments and public review to change the redistricting process and have filed legislation to create an independent commission to handle the mapmaking process,  WSIL News reports.

"Every Illinoisan deserves to be represented in our democracy and an independent map drawn by the people for the people NOT by the politicians for the politicians is the best way to make their voices heard," state Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Adams) said in a March 31 Facebook post. "For too long, the people of Illinois have been deprived of this right. That’s why we have filed Senate Bill 1325, the People’s Independent Maps Act."

The State Supreme Court would appoint 16 commission members that would be split evenly in political affiliation and represent the state’s racial, ethnic, and gender demographics. To ensure the independence of the commission, lawmakers, lobbyists, and state employees would be barred from serving on the commission.

Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Cook) recently appeared on WGN's Chicago’s Afternoon News to explain how the independent commission would be comprised.

"They’d pick these members, put them on to the commission, and there would be protections," McConchie said in the interview. "You’d have to have minorities on there, you would have to have women on there, you would have to have communities of interest. All of these things would be outlined in the legislation in order to give clear protections to every group within the state no matter how small."

Some critics of the bill accuse Republicans of trying to create a process that would lead to rigged elections in favor of Republicans, reported the Chicago Sun Times.

“I think a fair process starts with public input – not crass political calculations – which is why the House Redistricting Committee has scheduled 23 public hearings across our state to hear from people about what their community looks like to them,” state Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) said, according to the Chicago Sun Times. "We look forward to a robust and thorough discussion.”

To provide transparency to residents, the bill would require the commission to have at least 10 public hearings throughout the state, with at least four to be held after a map is proposed.

Republican leaders have said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker supports an independent redistricting process and will veto any unfair partisan map.

Senate Bill 1325 currently awaits approval from the Assignments Committee.