Peoria Standard

Lawmakers are disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has broken his promise to veto any partisan map presented by Democrats for this year's remapping of the legislative districts.

Pritzker made the vow on record while campaigning in 2018 and recently announced that he has changed his mind and trusts Democratic lawmakers to present a fair and accurate map despite the state's long history of gerrymandering. 

"There is troubling news on redistricting," state Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Watseka) said in an April 29 update from the IL House GOP. "Gov. Pritzker appeared to go back on a promise he made to veto any unfair partisan district map. Three years ago Gov. Pritzker spoke out against gerrymandering and said he would veto any partisan redistricting map. That was a position a lot of us agreed with and were really hopeful that he would follow through on."

Critics are skeptical of how accurate the maps will be since Democratic lawmakers insist on using American Community Survey (ACS) data rather than official numbers from the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau. Lawmakers have said that ACS data is more easily manipulated and less accurate and was never intended to be used for political district drawing.

"This spring the Democrats have started down the road toward another partisan map, and the governor said nothing even though we asked him to reaffirm the promise he made," Bennett said. 

Pritzker allegedly backpedaled because he didn't want to amend the Constitution to overrule the Democrats' map, but Bennett said that Pritzker "in fact can veto an unfair map and insist on a fair nonpartisan district map that ensures that all voices are heard."

Voter favorability of Pritzker has recently decreased, according to Prairie State Wire. Recent polls show that more people disapprove of the governor than those who do. 

Bennett feels the state government has "too much power and too few hands." 

"Abuse of the redistricting process has been a big part of that problem," he said. "It's very disappointing that the governor would go back on his word and I hope he reconsiders."