Illinois— Last night residents in Oswego and Joliet Townships showed up at their April annual township meetings to demand their communities have a say on Fair Maps in November. Both measures were successful and now voters in those townships will have the opportunity to vote on an advisory referendum that asks whether or not Illinois should have an independent commission to draw state and congressional districts. 

In elections over the past few years, voters in Oak Park, Proviso, Rock Island, Addison, Homer, Lemont, Palos, and Peoria Townships voted on similar nonbinding questions and overwhelmingly agreed that it is past time Illinois had Fair Maps. Time and time again, voters across the state have shown strong support for ending gerrymandering. 

“We are thrilled that Oswego and Joliet residents will have their turn to vote on such a crucial issue that can strengthen our democracy and give political power back to communities across the state,” said DuShaun Branch, community organizing director at CHANGE Illinois Action Fund. “Through grassroots efforts, led by local organizers Stephanie in Oswego and JoAnn in Joliet, they have been able to build relationships, educate communities, and show that real change starts at the local level ,” said Branch. 

“I was motivated to get involved because processes that impact people should include checks and balances. Right now, those checks on political power are missing. This initiative is about creating a fairer and more transparent system that truly represents local communities,” said part-time organizer Stephanie Hogan. 

In 2025, across the country, gerrymandering has been weaponized against communities for partisan advantage and districts are created to predetermine winners by splitting communities and making it difficult for voters to hold their lawmakers accountable. It is past time that Illinoisans pick their politicians, rather than politicians picking their voters. Gerrymandering is voter suppression. 

CHANGE Illinois Action Fund, along with local volunteers and organizers, will spend the months leading up to the midterm election to ensure voters in Oswego and Joliet Townships know about the questions on their ballots and why Fair Maps are needed in Illinois. 

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CHANGE Illinois Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonpartisan, nonprofit that advocates for ethical, efficient government and elections.