About Redistricting

What is redistricting?

Redistricting is the process of drawing a new map of legislative district boundary lines following the collection of Census population information once each decade. CHANGE Illinois! is focusing on the process of drawing Illinois state legislative districts. This process will occur next in 2011 and is intended to ensure that district lines reflect shifts in population over time and make certain each district has the same number of residents. In reality, the current system allows skilled partisan map-makers to create districts which favor incumbents and/or political parties and fracture communities.

Why is it important to reform this process?

• The current process can be controlled by the party in power and is conducted behind closed doors.
• In cases of divided power, a winner-take-all tie breaker is selected from a hat.
• The process is structured to protect incumbents. Because legislative leaders have the greatest influence on where legislative district boundary lines are drawn, legislators may be more responsive to the wishes of party leaders than to constituents' needs.
• A new, fair redistricting process is critical to ending gridlock on key policy issues, and creating a fair, open and honest government in Illinois.
• The abuse and misuse of redistricting diminishes communities of interest, disenfranchises voters by diluting their strength and limiting their ability to select their own representatives.
• Redistricting reform is required to provide diverse voices and independent thinkers an opportunity to serve in the General Assembly.

How can the redistricting process be reformed?

Changes to the process can only be made through a Constitutional Amendment. There are two options for altering the redistricting process:

• A citizens' ballot initiative, which would appear on the November 2010 ballot -- the League of Women Voters already has initiated a drive to gather valid signatures needed to place the "Illinois Fair Map Amendment" on the ballot.
• A constitutional amendment approved by the General Assembly and subject to the approval of voters and a number of proposals are being considered.
• Legislation to make redistricting more transparent to the public but not change the way maps are decided. 

View a chart comparing Fair Map to Senate Democrats' proposal.

Why now?

This process happens only once every 10 years. With the 2010 Census approaching, and at least one amendment moving forward, now is an opportune time to engage in coalition building and public education aimed at reforming Illinois' redistricting system. If we do not build momentum for redistricting reform now, we may need to wait another decade to see significant change in the system.