McHenry Times

An Illinois state senator who co-sponsored legislation calling for an independent commission to create Illinois' legislative redistricting maps, promoted transparency even as redistricting hearings are underway despite census numbers being delayed.

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) supported Senate Bill 1325, known as the People's Independent Maps Act, a measure he was chief co-sponsor of along with several Senate and House Republicans. 

"Over the past several weeks, we have listened and participated in redistricting hearings where we heard witnesses from who testified over and over again on the lack of transparency and communication in this redistricting process," Wilcox said in an April 5 Facebook post. 

Through the proposal, legislators may "recuse themselves from the map[ping] process," even though under current Illinois law, they may draw and approve a map by June 30, Senate Republicans said in a release.

Senate and House redistricting committees have been meeting and holding public hearings, but making sure that people draw the maps and not politicians is important, Wilcox said.

"The People's Independent Maps Act, Senate Bill 1325, is about ensuring that our legislative maps are NOT drawn by politicians who benefit directly from unfair maps," Wilcox said.

Redistricting is necessary after each decennial census to adjust for population changes within district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate.

Illinois has 118 House and 59 Senate districts. The Democrats have the majority in both chambers.