December 13, 2022

For Immediate Release

For all inquiries, please contact:
Chaundra Van Dyk
Advocacy Director
cvandyk@changeil.org

Voters Want to Know Where Candidates Stand on Ward Remap Reform

CHANGE Illinois, along with 11 additional community organizations that are members of the Illinois Redistricting Collaborative, shared a Chicago City Council Remap Survey with the 11 candidates for mayor and 209 candidates for alderperson who shared contact information with the Board of Elections to learn about their positions on independent, community-based ward remapping and gerrymandering. If elected, voters need to know how candidates will use their role in the City Council to reform the remapping process in a way that adds needed public transparency and accountability that will transform the map-drawing process into a people-focused process.

During the last ward mapping cycle, Chicagoans saw a new way ahead. The independent ward map created by the diverse, resident-centered Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission demonstrated that an open-sourced, transparent, and equitable option is possible to offer Chicagoans a better choice for future ward remaps. Our city has the chance to be a national leader by creating a fairer redistricting process that focuses the necessities of communities across the city. Voters should be the ones electing their leaders; elected officials should not be selecting their voters.

“Elected officials absolutely need to make clear to the public where they stand on redistricting,” said Chaundra Van Dyk, CHANGE Illinois advocacy director. “On the heels of a contentious remap, we look forward to hearing from the current candidates for mayor and alderperson and to helping them get their message out as it relates to gerrymandering and community input.” 

The groups sent the survey to all candidates in order to learn their views and level of commitment to this critical issue. We have asked that all candidates respond by January 6, 2020. We intend to share all the collected responses with the press, the public, and Chicago voters in an effort to continue educating residents about the need for change and where their representatives stand on redistricting reform.

CHANGE Illinois is proud to engage the candidates on this essential topic in collaboration with a diverse coalition of partners, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, Common Cause Illinois, the Hispanic Federation, the Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice, Independent Voters of Illinois – Independent Precinct Organization, the Latino Policy Forum, the Muslim Civic Coalition, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Resident Association of Greater Englewood, and the Union League Club of Chicago.

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CHANGE Illinois is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit that conducts research, educates and advocates for ethical, efficient government and elections.