Illinois Senate Republicans expressed support for an amendment to the state constitution that would create a non-partisan system for drawing legislative maps. Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4 would replace the current legislative redistricting method with a 16-member commission appointed by the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and the most senior Supreme Court justice of a different political party. The public would be able to submit maps for the commission to consider. Public hearings are also provided for in the amendment. The measure has sponsors from both parties.
“We in Illinois still face the struggle of political parties drawing districts for their own personal interests as opposed to the interests of the people in their district,” Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady of Bloomington said Wednesday.
Each Senate district in Illinois is divided into two representative districts. The Illinois Constitution requires them to be “compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population.” The General Assembly is responsible for drawing the boundary lines.
Full Article: Senate Republicans express support for redistricting amendment – News – The State Journal-Register – Springfield, IL.