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Illinois Supreme Court Says No To Remap Referendum

Illinois State Board of Elections

A divided Illinois Supreme Court has ruled a voter referendum seeking to change the system Illinois uses to draw political boundaries is unconstitutional, meaning it can't appear on the November ballot. 

 The ruling Thursday affirms a Cook County judge's decision that the proposal doesn't meet constitutional muster.

 

 

The group Independent Maps, which led the massive signature-gathering effort to get the issue on the fall ballot, sent a message to its members saying its board, staff, and partners are very disappointed in the decision: “Our attorneys are currently reviewing the opinion and will determine whether we will ask the court to reconsider.” Independent Maps is calling for an 11-member commission to be in charge of drawing legislative district lines. Currently, the party in power runs political mapmaking.

The legal challenge was brought by an attorney linked to top Democrats. It was filed on behalf of minority business and community leaders who claimed the proposed system would diminish minority representation.

Governor Bruce Rauner issued a lengthy statement after the Supreme Court’s decision was announced:

"What drives people away from Illinois is the sense that our political system is broken and our government is unaccountable to the people. The Illinois system only works for the political insiders who benefit at the expense of the poor, the vulnerable and the middle class.

“Today’s court decision to deny Illinoisans the right to vote on a redistricting referendum does nothing to stem the outflow or change people’s views of how the system is rigged and corrupt.

“When the General Assembly reconvenes this fall, they should put political reform - term limits and independent redistricting - at the top of the legislative agenda so that incumbents aren’t locked into power and democracy is restored through competitive general elections.

“Legislative districts should represent people based upon the community where they live. Politicians should not pick their voters by drawing spaghetti-like district lines with the sole intent of keeping one party in power regardless of how the people vote.

“Fair maps create fair districts. The system is broken and controlled by career politicians. People leave when they cannot hold their politicians accountable.

“This is not a partisan idea; this is the people’s idea. Independent redistricting has strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, including President Obama, as well as non-partisan, good government groups. More than 500,000 citizens signed the petition to allow the entire state a chance to be heard on this issue of fairness. It is an affront to our democracy that the courts struck down yet another citizen-led referendum drive to fix the system that only benefits the people in power.”