South Central Reporter

Illinois Republican Senate and House lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 1325, or the People's Independent Maps Act, to replace lawmakers redrawing district maps in the state with an independent commission. 

The bill, introduced March 30 by Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), Senate Republican Caucus Chair Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) and House Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield), calls for the Illinois Supreme Court to appoint a 16-person independent commission to redraw the new districts map. 

"Every Illinoisan deserves to be represented in our democracy and an independent map drawn by the people for the people NOT by the politicians for the politicians is the best way to make their voices heard. For too long, the people of Illinois have been deprived of this right, that’s why we have filed SB 1325, the People’s Independent Maps Act," Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) said in a Facebook post on April 2. "Yesterday, I participated in a redistricting hearing focused on Southern Illinois. This was just one of several redistricting hearings held over the past few weeks where my colleagues and I have had the chance to hear firsthand from witnesses about the lack of transparency and communication in the redistricting process. One thing is abundantly clear, politicians should no longer be able to pick their voters."

Currently, Illinois law allows for the redrawing of the district map to be completed and approved by June 30. If passed, Senate Bill 1325 would not allow lawmakers, lobbyist, state employees or anyone affiliated with the government to be appointed to the independent commission. The commission would also represent both parties equality, include people that reflect "the ethnic, gender and racial demographics of the state" and be required to release a map within 30 days of receiving the census redistricting data.

The People's Independent Maps Act uses identical language from SJRCA 0004 that was introduced in 2019 by Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and acted as a constitutional amendment for an independent redistricting commission. This resolution had 37 co-sponsors in the Senate and included 18 Democrats. A similar amendment in 2016, and co-sponsored by House Speaker Chris Welsh (D-Hillside), was approved with 105 votes yes. 

Public polls show that more than 75% of Illinois voters do in fact support an independent redistricting map commission that puts the citizens in control of drawing the new map instead of politicians.