FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For all inquiries, please contact:
Ryan Tolley
Executive Director
(336) 503-2301
CHICAGO–As the leading organizations in the fight for Independent Maps in 2016, and opposing the gerrymandering of Illinois’ congressional and legislative districts in 2021, we know firsthand the egregious flaws and issues with Illinois’ current remapping process.
We have serious concerns with the approach and the language being proposed by the new Fair Maps Illinois initiative, which held its launch event earlier today. We are first and foremost troubled by the initiative’s lack of robust engagement during the development of the proposal with community organizations and leaders, who are most impacted by racial and partisan gerrymandering. That shortcoming has led us to question who will benefit if the proposal were to make it on the ballot and ultimately be enshrined in the Illinois Constitution.
The ballot language also misses key and necessary components to ensure the redistricting process is equitable and fair. The proposal is based on the existing flawed, politically-controlled process in our state constitution that leaves the fate of voters’ representation to a coin flip. Democracy is too important to be left up to a 50/50 chance of either major political party having complete control of the remap.
At a minimum, any changes to Illinois’ undemocratic redistricting process in Illinois should uphold and require the following principles:
1. COMPLY WITH THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
2. COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE VOTING RIGHTS ACT
3. COMPRISE AND UPHOLD A NON-PARTISAN PROCESS
4. MAXIMIZE VOTER CHOICE, ELECTORAL CANDIDACY AND COMPETITIVENESS
5. RECOGNIZE AND PRESERVE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST
6. ACCURATELY INCLUDE PERMANENT RESIDENCE OF ALL ILLINOISANS
7. COMPRISE AND UPHOLD A TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE PROCESS
8. PROVIDE FOR OPEN, FULL, AND MEANINGFUL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
“The fight for fair maps has never been more important in light of what is happening across the country with states contemplating or starting mid-decade congressional gerrymanders to maximize partisan advantage,” said CHANGE Illinois executive director Ryan Tolley. “At the same time, we cannot abandon our principles and must ensure that reform efforts are rooted in the community organizations and leaders most affected by gerrymandering. Instead of trusting a politically-controlled process to cure gerrymandering, we should focus on empowering and protecting voters through expanding the Illinois Voting Rights Act.”
We will be convening community organizations and leaders to understand the impact this proposal would have on their ability to participate in the remap process and ensure that we collectively elevate those needs and concerns.
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CHANGE Illinois, is a nonpartisan nonprofit that educates residents, researches and advocates for ethical and efficient government. The CHANGE Illinois Action Fund is an affiliated 501(c)(4) nonprofit.