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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Wanting Reform in Redistricting
Taking a look at the map as it exists now- there doesn't appear to be a method to the madness. And that's because incumbents were responsible for drawing it, and they drew it in such a way that they could win. In fact, according to the Illinois Board of Elections incumbents have won their districts 98% of time since 2001. Which some say is unfair to the voters of Illinois.
Its this map and the method in which its drawn that's raising eyebrows across the state and garnering support for the Fair Map Initiative of Illinois...
"The districts are done to protect the incumbents, the leadership wants in the legislature. And that makes the members of the legislature accountable to their leaders and not the people in their districts- who have very little choice about who's representing them in the General Assembly," explains Jan Czarnik with the League of Women Voters.
Members of the League and the Illinois Reform Commission say that system is defunct and its time for a change.
"We want half a million registered voters all over the state to sign this petition so that we can reform the way we elect people to the state general assembly," Czarnik says.
But they're not the only ones who see a problem with the system. According to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute last fall:
71% of registered voters disapprove of the current system.
"This is a big voter issue," explains member of the Jackson County League Maggie Flanagan, "considering what our goal is: to have the state of Illinois and the citizens participate in a transparent, objective process to be sure that they have adequate and well drawn representation that represents their interests and their voter culture."
Those signatures have to be collected by May 1st to appear as an amendment on the general election ballot. And, it has to be done this year to coincide with the results of the 2010 census.
"Yes, yes, to make it possible for the best people to get elected to the general assembly instead of the favored incumbents of which ever political party is in power after the census."
Lawmakers have been looking at change the redistricting process, too. A Senate committee has held hearings all over the state. But the group we saw on Friday wants to take matters into their own hands just in case.
By: Rachel Gartner
rgartner@wsiltv.com
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