North Egypt News

Illinois Senate and House Republican members are trying to reshape how the redistricting process will occur in 2021 through the People's Independent Maps Act. 

The act would create a 16-member state Supreme Court-appointed redistricting commission comprised of citizens instead of the majority party, in this case, the Democrats, driving the process. 

"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 an April 2 Facebook post.

The People's Independent Maps Act would also prevent state employees, lobbyists and lawmakers are banned from being committee members. 

The commission would hold at least 10 required public hearings before adopting a plan, and a minimum of four public hearings after a map system has been suggested. A map proposal must be submitted within 30 days after receiving census redistricting data. 

Public polls from 2020 indicated that more than 75% of respondents supported the creation of an independent commission that would grant citizens the power to determine election districts as opposed to politicians drawing them to favor their political interests.