Peoria Standard

The statehouse is abuzz with conversation about the redistricting of Illinois' legislative districts, which the Democratic majority must have done by June 30 if they don't want to see the process referred to an independent, bipartisan mapping commission. 

Many lawmakers and policy experts feel that an independent commission would be healthy for Illinois. The Prairie State has a long history of gerrymandering at the expense of the equal and fair representation of the state's minority and rural populations, and Republican legislators introduced multiple bills in an attempt to finalize the use of the commission, including the Fair Maps Act and the People's Independent Maps Act. 

The independent commission would consist of eight people, four Democrats and four Republicans, appointed by the Supreme Court and having no affiliation with a politician or lobbyist. State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) explained that a ninth person might be drawn out of a hat to tip the scales in the event of a tie vote. 

"Previously, when we've gone to a constitutional commission to draw the maps if the Legislature doesn't act, there is sometimes a person that gets pulled out of the hat that is the ninth member of the commission," the Springfield lawmaker said. "It's been Lincoln's top hat before."

Butler has been vocal recently about his disappointment in Gov. J.B. Pritzker's about-face on his promise to turn down any partisanly drawn map, as have others. Last month on Chicago's Morning Answer, Ted Dabrowski criticized the governor for being missing in action. 

"I wouldn't expect any change there," Dabrowski said of whether the governor would honor his campaign promise. 

The U.S. Census data that the state typically uses to draw the districts was delayed this year due to the pandemic, but the Democratic majority is shoving forward to get the process done, either with incomplete Census data or statistics from the American Community Survey, a database known to be incomplete, inaccurate and easily manipulated for political gain.