It’s time to fast-track Illinois from the Dark Ages to the 21st century.

Together, let’s send a message to the overwhelming majority of Illinoisans who support fair maps that we will make every effort to respond to their long-held desire for an independent redistricting process.

To suggest that having politicians draw maps privately better protects Latinos and other people of color is to defy the evidence.

Without action, the next decade of political districts could be determined by picking a name out of a hat

It appears our needed focus on this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic means systemic, constitutional redistricting reform will not happen. And that’s a frustrating shame.

One of the many things the coronavirus pandemic has underscored is that leadership truly does matter. It makes a huge difference. A life-and-death difference.

Somebody had to reach into a replica of Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe hat (this being Illinois) and pick the name of somebody — equal chances a Democrat or Republican — to be the tie-breaker. The lucky tie-breaker’s political party then had unilateral control to gerrymander the map in any way they saw fit. There was no compromise.

It’s lawmakers like these that make me appreciate the role that state government plays in our day-to-day lives. They are positive forces in their communities and doing what leaders do, stepping up and providing people with support and resources during a critical and frightening time.

Hundreds of Illinoisans joined CHANGE Illinois’ virtual Rally in Place for Fair Maps and now are acting to ask their lawmakers to see that the Fair Maps Amendment gets votes in the state House and Senate.

In the midst of a pandemic, talking about gerrymandering might seem like an unneeded distraction, but fixing it goes directly toward giving us the power we’re supposed to have to determine for ourselves who leads and represents us.

We need competitive elections to end the business-as-usual status quo that helps explain Illinois’ long descent into a fiscal and ethical abyss.

Illinois has demonstrated that we are not afraid to lead when it comes to disaster response. We should not be afraid to lead when it comes to ending partisan gerrymandering. Moves toward improved and less partisan gerrymandering have been passed in states such as Arizona, Colorado, California, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.