Dupage Policy Journal

CHANGE Illinois Policy director Ryan Tolley wants more public participation during Illinois' remapping process and laid part of that responsibility on lawmakers during a hearing led by State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield).

At the DuPage Hearing of the House Redistricting Committee April 2, Tolley said that it was of paramount importance for residents to participate in the process, which affects them.

"Illinois' district [maps] belong to the people [and] they expect an independent and transparent process that values them," Tolley said at the hearing. "In response to their input, they expect maps to be created that aren't based on politics but on the needs of their community. [We] urge you to meet their clear expectations."

CHANGE Illinois Policy Director Ryan Tolley | Photo courtesy of CHANGE Illinois

CHANGE Illinois is pro-reforms when it comes to redistricting. Together with more than 30 other organizations, they drafted the Fair Maps Amendment to end gerrymandering.

Tolley said that more needs to be done to improve understanding and attendance.

"Good government groups and community organizations are doing their part to notify residents, but it's challenging when we cannot answer their basic questions," Tolley said. "The people of Illinois need more outreach. They need this committee to explain how to be used in map proposals. People absolutely need to see [any] proposals weeks before votes are taken, and they need to have the opportunity to weigh in at additional public hearings."

The fight to shift how districts in Illinois are drawn is not new and extends to local municipalities. Some say politicians use gerrymandering to remain in elected office, particularly in Chicago, according to Madeleine Doubek, the executive director for CHANGE Illinois, who condemns the act. 

 "It's time to end ward gerrymandering that protects incumbents … the days of deals over backroom maps are done," she said at a virtual news conference, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. "We're going to make possible a ward map for Chicago created by Chicagoans. It's time to give residents the power. We're supporting a process to create a Chicago map that puts the people first."

Former Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has been linked to gerrymandering after nearly 40 years serving as the House's top executive. 

The Chicago Tribune in 2016 gave a detailed account of how Madigan's (D-Chicago) mapping worked in favor of the Democrats since 1982. He was accused of extending certain city boundaries, creating new districts, among other things. Lawyer and friend of Madigan, Michael Kasper, won a lawsuit filed against the Fair Map amendment.

The Fair Map Amendment sought, among other things, to remove politicians and legislators from drawing their maps. It also required at least 30 public hearings before a vote is taken and to form a nonpartisan redistricting commission.

Redistricting occurs once every 10 years after the census is completed. The point is to realign legislative maps based on population shifts.

Illinois House and Senate committees have been holding redistricting hearings, allowing for public input, which has been sparse in some cases.

"We've been trying to do our part in letting residents and other organizations know [about the meetings]," Tolley said. "It's difficult for people who work for a living to come and take time out of their schedule to do this."