Ward remapping process
In Chicago, the mapping process is currently controlled by the City Council members. This creates a huge conflict of interest, allowing alders to choose their constituents. The redistricting process should not be focused on incumbent protection, but instead on keeping communities whole.
2026 ordinance
In 2026, CHANGE Illinois worked closely with Ald. La Spata (1) to develop and introduce an ordinance (O2026-0025452) to establish a redistricting commission for the City of Chicago. The commission, which will be selected to be representative of the City’s diversity, will focus on a transparent, community-led mapping process through language-accessible public hearings throughout the City of Chicago.
How does the ordinance work?
A diverse group of organizations are behind the efforts to move this ordinance forward. The coalition members are: CHANGE Illinois, Citizen Advocacy Center, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, Common Cause Illinois, Equity and Transformation, Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Latino Policy Forum, Muslim Civic Coalition, Palenque LSNA, and Urban Village Church.
Past efforts
Candidate Survey 2023
For the 2023 municipal election, we asked candidates where they stand on an independent resident-led Chicago ward mapping process. A majority of candidates agreed to participate and most also agreed that the process needs reform to empower residents and prioritize their needs and concerns.
The organizations sponsoring the survey wanted to see future ward mapping focused on the needs of people in communities across Chicago. Those organizations are: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Chicago Urban League, CHANGE Illinois, the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, Common Cause Illinois, 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.
Take a look at what the mayoral and aldermanic candidates had to say about ward mapping and related concerns here.
Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission – 2022
In 2021 and 2022, Chicagoans witnessed, for the first time, hope for a new path forward in drawing ward boundaries. The People’s Map, the independent ward map created by the diverse, resident-centered Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission, proved that an open-sourced, transparent, and equitable option is possible to offer Chicagoans a better choice for future ward remaps. This effort demonstrated that the old “Chicago Way” is not the only way.
Our city has the opportunity to be a national leader by instituting a more democratic redistricting process that centers the needs of Chicagoans and their communities over the needs of incumbents. Voters should be the ones electing their leaders; elected officials should not be selecting their voters by drawing their own ward boundaries.