Illinois Supreme Court Won’t Reconsider Redistricting Ruling
The Illinois Supreme Court has denied a request to reconsider its ruling that a group's initiative to change how legislative districts are drawn is ineligible for the November ballot. The court issued the ruling Tuesday on a 4-3 vote. The court ruled last month that the Independent Maps Coalition's proposal was unconstitutional.
The coalition had collected about 563,000 signatures to ask voters whether legislative mapmaking power should be in the hands of an independent commission instead of lawmakers. The court ruled last month that the group's proposal was unconstitutional.
It's the second failed attempt to overhaul redistricting by petition in two years. Governor Bruce Rauner says the legislature should take up the mantle.
"Whether people are Democrats or Republicans doesn’t matter, this is about reform, it's about changing the system versus the status quo," he said.
Independent Maps Chair Dennis FitzSimons said in a statement that "Illinois voters have been denied their right to vote on a constitutional amendment to remove politics" from the map-making process. The court rarely grants rehearings.
Links
- Former Gov. Quinn Unveils His Own Redistricting Reform Plan
- Illinois Redistricting Referendum Won’t Appear On Ballot
- Judge Blocks Illinois Redistricting Plan From Ballot
- Redistricting Initiative Takes Next Step Toward November Ballot
- When It Rains Redistricting, Ballot Options May Pour
- Outpouring Of Signatures For Change In Redistricting Process