Coalition announces 300,000 signatures for redistricting reform

Posted on September 24, 2015
Illinois Legislative Map
A previous redistricting reform effort failed in 2014. (Photo by Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Illinois News Network

SPRINGFIELD – The Independent Map Coalition has announced it already has over 300,000 signatures endorsing the plan to place an amendment on the 2016 ballot.

The non-partisan group only needs a little over 290,000 per the Illinois Constitution, but they want to make sure the initiative will survive challenges.

The well-funded group’s goal is to amend the state constitution to include a non-partisan independent commission responsible for drawing state legislative districts.

The coalition got a boost from the Illinois Farm Bureau last month when it made it’s 95 statewide offices collection points for signatures.

A Cook County Judge threw out a previous effort to add a redistricting amendment to the ballot in 2014 after hearing arguments from attorney Mike Casper, a long-time ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan. Whether this initiative will meet a similar fate remains to seen.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…