plans this year

​This year, the LWV Wilmette will support this LWV-IL initiative by  collaborating with our local league partners and working with our local state Senator and representatives to encourage their support of the proposed “Fair Maps Amendment”.

news and latest developments

​In mid-February the Illinois House of Representatives joined the Senate in filing a constitutional amendment to change how districts are drawn, the "2020 Fair Maps Amendment."  To appear on the General Election Ballot on November 3, 2020, the deadline for Illinois House and Senate approval of the amendment was May 3rd, a date which has now passed.

Fair Maps advocates, including the LWVIL, have refocused their efforts on legislation similar to the Fair Maps Amendment.  This legislation, while not yet agreed upon, may require the General Assembly to appoint a special independent commission to draw the maps.  This article from WTTW outlines many of the latest issues and challenges related to redistricting reform.
 
Background from LWVIL:

• Position: LWVIL believes the responsibility for redistricting should be vested in an independent commission.
• Why It Matters: Redistricting determines political power. Every 10 years, when the U.S. Census data is released, political parties draw legislative boundaries that allow them to choose voters who are most likely to give them a political advantage on Election Day. This practice, known as gerrymandering, produces noncompetitive elections, career politicians, and governmental deadlock all because politicians have little to no reason to fear the consequences of being thrown out of office.After this year's 2020 Census, new legislative maps will be drawn in 2021 which will be in effect for the next decade. 

resources

LWVIL: Redistricting - LWVIL
LWVUS: Redistricting - LWV US
Change Illinois: CHANGE Illinois
House Bill: CON AMEND-REDISTRICTING: HJRCA41
Senate Bill: CON AMEND-REDISTRICTING: SJRCA18

​LWVuS POSITION IN BRIEF

The People Powered Fair Maps Campaign is a national redistricting campaign of the League of Women Voters focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. LWV-IL is focusing on implementing fair redistricting processes through state constitutional provisions requiring “free and fair” redistricting processes.
 
Responsibility for redistricting preferably should be vested in an independent special commission, with membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government, including citizens at large, representatives of public interest groups, and members of minority groups.