FIGHTING FOR REDISTRICTING RULES IN ILLINOIS

Illinois voters may soon have a say as to how state and congressional legislative districts are shaped in the state. A judge is hearing arguments to allow an independent commission draw state political boundaries. A similar push in 2014 didn’t meet the constitutional requirements allowing voters to decide in a referendum.

Right now, elected officials in Illinois draw maps. The ballot initiative asks voters to approve an 11-member commission to decide. If voted on, the first commission would be appointed in 2021. It would include an auditor general, bipartisan leaders from the state House and Senate, a random drawing, and if necessary, members of the Illinois Supreme Court.

A lawsuit filed in May argues that the ballot measure isn’t constitutional because isn’t both “structural and procedural.” They also argue that it adds duties for the auditor general and Supreme Court members, along with restricting the attorney general’s power to bring legal action. Daniel Jean, Jr., from The Citizen Group, sat down with ABC 7 Eyewitness News to talk about the independent map amendment – and how it could change politics in Illinois.

For more information visit http://www.elections.il.gov and http://thecitizengroup.com/.