Sept. 24, 2021
For Immediate Release
For all inquiries, please contact:
Madeleine Doubek
Executive Director, CHANGE Illinois
847.769.4940
Gov. Pritzker fuels litany of broken vows by signing into law maps that dilute diverse Illinoisans’ representation
Gov. J.B. Pritzker Friday fueled his litany of broken vows to the people of Illinois by signing into law maps that do not reflect the rich diversity of Illinois, but instead steal representation from Latino, Black and other Illinoisans who have repeatedly pleaded for equitable representation.
For the second time this year, Pritzker joined supermajority lawmakers in ignoring and disrespecting the input of constituents.
Many major groups agree the new maps reduce the numbers of majority Black voting age population districts and majority Latino voting age population districts. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s lawyers have said they believe the state representative and senate maps dilute Latino voting power. The Latino Policy Forum asked Pritzker to veto the maps for the same reason. Illinois African Americans for Equitable Redistricting also said the maps do not create enough Black majority voting age districts. Valerie Leonard, who leads the group, said, “In fact, every redistricting plan the legislature has come up with after 2011 has done progressively more harm to Black voters.” The Decalogue Society of Lawyers noted Jewish communities on Chicago’s north side and suburbs were split up.
Despite all of this, and despite repeated claims that he wanted maps that accurately reflect the state’s rich diversity, Pritzker chose party fealty over the people of Illinois. He again broke his pledge to honor our diversity. This, after previously violating his repeated promises to push for and support independent redistricting and to veto partisan maps.
The actions of supermajority lawmakers are utterly undemocratic. CHANGE Illinois and its partners remain deeply concerned about the maps’ negative effects on the voting power of communities of color guaranteed by the federal Voting Rights Act. We are compelled to redouble our battle for transparent, independent redistricting that honors the will of the people of Illinois.
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The CHANGE Illinois Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan, nonprofit.