The answer: because Illinois legislators have created districts that ensure their re-election by drawing their own maps behind closed doors. Since the last map was drawn in 2001, there have been 630 general election contests for the Illinois House and Senate. There were no challengers in almost 45% of these races. In 547 of them, incumbents seeking reelection won 536 times, or 98%. Thus, the competition is snuffed out, and power is concentrated in the few who are in control. 

A fair map is the first step in taking Illinois back from the politicians. If you are unsatisfied with Illinois government, join The League of Women Voters of Glenview on Saturday, February 20th from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Community Room of the Glenview Police Station (Northwest Corner of East Lake and Shermer in Glenview) to kick-off a petition drive for a fair and transparent redistricting process.

Illinois voters remain skeptical that the era of wheeling, dealing, backroom politics is over. Why? This is the only state in the nation with a history of legislators creating their own voting districts by drawing a name—Republican or Democrat—out of a hat. The winners get to decide the re-mapping boundaries, drawing district lines to protect themselves and their friends while punishing their enemies.

With no transparency or oversight, this practice continues and can result in some gerrymandered districts resembling pretzels. The legislature could change this process – but they haven’t – and they won’t. It is up to us, the people. We need your help to change this process and take it from the legislators and put it in the hands of an independent commission in order to make redistricting more transparent, fair, and accessible to the public.

The League of Women Voters, in concert with other concerned groups, is now working to try to insure a new process. An Illinois Fair Map Amendment, based on an Illinois Reform Commission Proposal, should be placed on the November, 2010 ballot. This Amendment will be on the ballot only if we get 500,000 registered voters to sign a petition demanding it.

The Illinois Fair Map Amendment:
• Places map-drawing duties in the hands of an independent commission;
• Allows de-nesting: Representative districts need not be contained within a single Senate district;
• Requires a 2/3 majority vote of the General Assembly to approve maps put forth by the independent commission, and does not allow the General Assembly to draw maps on its own;
• Removes the Governor from the approval process;
• Increases public transparency by requiring public hearings, public display of proposed maps and allowing submission of maps by the general public;
• Requires the commission to use neutral criteria that will specifically protect minority voting rights and eliminate unduly favoring a political party;
• Removes the current tie-breaker provision and replaces it with fair resolution of map-making process. If the commission fails to produce an approved map, the Illinois Supreme Court would choose a “Special Master” to review all maps and data and draw the district boundaries.

To learn more about the Illinois Fair Map Amendment visit www.ilfairmap.com ; for more information on the League of Women Voters of Glenview visit www.glenview.il.lwvnet.org.