Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) supports the People's Independent Maps Act that would allow an independent commission to create Illinois' legislative redistricting maps. | Craig Wilcox/Facebook
Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) supports the People's Independent Maps Act that would allow an independent commission to create Illinois' legislative redistricting maps. | Craig Wilcox/Facebook
Crystal Lake resident Gregory Glover spoke at the April 9 House Redistricting Committee hearing in McHenry County and recommended keeping municipalities intact when redrawing congressional maps.
The State House Redistricting Committee has been holding various hearings to gather first-hand suggestions from Illinoisans.
“What I’m proposing is based on the current issue is that municipalities are often split among 2 or 3 House districts and the goal would be to align by municipality wherever feasible," Glover of the McHenry County Bicycling Advocates and McHenry County Chapter of Cycling Without Age, said. “So, I know it won’t always be totally possible but I think there are two reasons — often it will give the community a chance to get to know their representatives. It will also give the representative a better chance to understand their constituents' needs in a community setting. Districts are often drawn all over the place and this will give us a better chance.”
The political boundaries that will be determined this year will be the electoral map that will be utilized for the next ten years. Redistricting is a decennial process following an official count from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The state should be able to establish the district maps in time for candidates to file for the 2022 elections.
This year, the state Senate and House Redistricting Committees have been actively conducting hearings to determine how maps should be drawn. Both of the caucuses as well as citizen witnesses have called for fair maps.
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