Invites voters to join his petition for change
State Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) joined several Senate Republican Senators in Springfield today to back a bipartisan plan that would put a fair redistricting proposal on the ballot and to invite constituents to sign his petition on the issue.
McConchie said Senate Joint Resolution-Constitutional Amendment 4 would allow voters to choose to create an independent redistricting commission and would to take political parties out of the process of re-drawing districts.
“It’s time that we put the power in the hands of voters when it comes to redistricting, and allow them to pick their legislators instead of legislators picking their voters,” said Sen. McConchie. “My constituents have been wanting a change in the way Illinois draws legislative districts for many years. It’s time to give them that power.”
Every 10 years, following the decennial U.S. Census, Illinois’ Congressional and General Assembly maps are redrawn. Illinois currently has a winner-take-all system for the redistricting process, where the politicians who are in control right now have the power to draw the maps for the next 10 years. This gives them the ability to shift district lines to create an advantage for the members of their party, which is often referred to as “gerrymandering.” This system is what creates strangely-shaped districts and uncompetitive elections.
Senate Joint Resolution-Constitutional Amendment 4, sponsored by legislators from both parties, would give voters the opportunity to amend the Constitution to create a new, non-partisan system for drawing maps. It would establish an independent redistricting commission, increase transparency in the process and provide for public hearings to allow Illinois residents to weigh in.
SJR-CA 4 would place the question of fair maps on the ballot for the next statewide election. So far, however, entrenched political leaders haven’t allowed similar bills to advance, despite a nationwide call for fair map plans from members of both parties.
Sen. McConchie is giving the people in his district the opportunity to voice their support for fairer maps in Illinois by clicking here to sign his fair maps petition.
“By signing my petition, you are saying enough is enough, it’s time for fairer maps,” said McConchie.