Fair Maps Amendment reaches 36 Senate cosponsors, the three-fifths threshold required to pass

If called for a vote, the Senate version of the Fair Maps Amendment would pass based on the number of cosponsors alone

SPRINGFIELD – Today, Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) signed on as the 36th Senate cosponsor of the Fair Maps Amendment (SJRCA26).

This means that if the Fair Maps Amendment was called for a vote on the Senator floor, the amendment would reach the minimum number of votes needed to pass. The Illinois State Constitution requires legislative constitutional amendments like SJRCA26 to pass with a three-fifths majority. In the Illinois Senate, this three-fifths number required for passage is 36 Senators voting yes.

“Reaching 36 cosponsors is an important milestone for the Fair Maps Amendment. It is a clear demonstration that an overwhelming majority of the Illinois Senate wants to end gerrymandering.” said Jeff Raines, Communication Director at CHANGE Illinois. “It’s time to call the Fair Maps Amendment for a vote.”

The Fair Maps Amendment is modeled after a 2016 proposal drafted by then-Rep. Jack Franks, which was passed out of the House with 105 “yes” votes.

The current list of Senate cosponsors of the Fair Maps Amendment includes: Senators Julie A. Morrison, Heather A. Steans, Andy Manar, David Koehler, Laura M. Murphy, Jim Oberweis, Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, Melinda Bush, Daniel Biss, Chris Nybo, Dale A. Righter, Dan McConchie, Cristina Castro, Michael Connelly, Ira I. Silverstein, Karen McConnaughay, William E. Brady, Paul Schimpf, Jason A. Barickman, Sue Rezin, Neil Anderson, Dale Fowler, John F. Curran, Chuck Weaver, Jil Tracy, Thomas Cullerton, Bill Cunningham, Scott M. Bennett, Steve Stadelman, Dave Syverson, Chapin Rose, Pamela J. Althoff, Steven M. Landek, Tim Bivins, Tom Rooney ,and Kyle McCarter.

The deadline to pass the Fair Maps Amendment out of both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly in order to appear on the November 2018 ballot is Sunday, May 6th.

The Fair Maps Amendment has been endorsed by: Asian-Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago, Better Government Association, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, Campaign Legal Center, CHANGE Illinois, Citizen Advocacy Center, Common Cause Illinois, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Farm Bureau, League of Women Voters Illinois, NAACP Chicago – South Side Branch, Small Business Advocacy Council, Union League Club of Chicago, and Unite America – Chicago chapter.