Illinois Democrats OK New Legislative Maps Over Criticism
CHICAGO — Illinois Democrats were poised to set new legislative boundaries over objections from Republicans and some community groups that the process was rushed and maps were drawn behind closed doors to keep Democrats in power in the state Legislature. Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a do-over of maps that majority Democrats approved and Gov. J.B. […]
Advocates Ask Lawmakers To Slow Down Remap Process
SPRINGFIELD – Voting rights advocates and minority community members urged Illinois lawmakers on Thursday to take more time in redrawing legislative district maps so the general public can have more time to study whatever new maps will be proposed. “We’re joining other advocates today in asking for more time to provide an efficient analysis of […]
Illinois Lawmakers Schedule Aug. 31 Session To Redraw Legislative Maps In Light Of Census Data
SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers will head back to the Capitol on Tuesday, Aug. 31, to consider changes to the legislative maps that Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law earlier this year. Those maps – which set the new boundaries for the 118 state House and 59 state Senate districts for the next decade – were passed […]
Illinois Democrats Will Redraw Political Maps Using Census
CHICAGO — Illinois Democrats say the Legislature will return to Springfield to redraw political districts that will be used for legislative elections over the next decade, this time using data from the 2020 census. The announcement came as Republicans said census data released last week show the maps that majority Democrats approved and Gov. J.B. […]
After Months Of Delay, The Census Data For New Voting Maps Is Coming Out Aug. 12
After months of delays, the 2020 census results used to redraw voting districts around the country will finally be released on Aug. 12, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday. In a tweet, the federal government’s largest statistical agency confirmed that the detailed demographic data will be posted on its website four days sooner than Aug. 16, the previously […]
Pritzker Signs New Legislative Maps Into Law One Week After Democrats Push Them Through
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed new legislative district maps Democrats pushed through the General Assembly a week ago — maps Democrats approved on partisan lines over objections from community advocacy organizations, self-styled government reform groups and Republicans. “Illinois’ strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been […]
New Legislative Maps Pass Less Than 24 Hours After Introduction
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers passed measures Friday to redraw state legislative and judicial district lines, less than 24 hours after the bills implementing the maps were introduced. The latest versions of the legislative maps were released about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The actual legislation to implement them was released in the early hours of Friday morning, […]
Democrats Float Slightly Tweaked Remap Plans To Bolster Claims Party Heeded Community Input
SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in Illinois’ House and Senate Thursday evening released a second set of proposed legislative district boundary maps with four days left in the General Assembly’s regularly scheduled spring session. The new maps are tweaked ever so slightly from versions made public over the weekend, giving Democrats cover from complaints the majority party […]
Democrats Unveil Legislative Map Proposal, GOP Calls It ‘Gerrymandering 101’
SPRINGFIELD – House and Senate redistricting committees will hold a series of public hearings this week on a proposed new set of legislative maps that Democrats released late Friday, despite the fact that official census data won’t be available until later this year. The Democrats’ decision to release the maps after 7:30 p.m. Friday, combined […]
Democrats’ Late Friday Maps Drop Brings Decennial Redistricting Fight To Fever Pitch
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois General Assembly’s typical end-of-May rush is headed for an acrimonious conclusion after Democrats published their long-awaited proposed legislative maps Friday evening, kicking off what those in the party hope is the final leg of a contentious once-in-a-decade redistricting process. Republicans — along with many self-styled government reform organizations and minority advocacy […]
Southern Illinois Could Be Target For Congressional District Loss
A political scientist predicts southern Illinois will lose a congressional district when the Democrat-controlled Illinois legislature redraws the political maps this year. The two southernmost districts are held by Republicans: Mike Bost of Murphysboro and Mary Miller of Oakland. John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, said Democrats […]
Census Population Figures Cost Illinois A Congressional Seat
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois will lose another seat in Congress as a result of the 2020 Census. It continues a long slide in prestige and power for Illinois, which has forfeited 10 seats in the U.S. House in the last seven censuses. The effect could mean fewer federal dollars and larger congressional districts in central and […]
Congressman Joins Statehouse GOP In Calling For Redistricting Commission
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis joined his Republican colleagues in the General Assembly Monday in calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to support legislation to form an independent commission to redraw congressional and state legislative district maps. “In the end, I think the public is demanding an open transparent process,” Davis, of Taylorville, said during […]
News Around Illinois – Sept. 7, 2020
9 Children Among New COVID Cases; Testing Positivity Rate Falls McLean County health officials on Monday reported 46 new cases, including two babies (under age 1) and seven children 17 and under. The health department on Monday provided age-specific information about new cases for the first time in over a week. The department had stopped […]
Census Begins Door Knocking Across Illinois, As Advocates Worry About Shortened Response Time
People in Illinois who have not yet filled out their census forms will soon get a knock at their door.