State Sen. Steve McClure said that he feels Democrats are pushing to redraw political districts without census data because they believe it will benefit them politically. | Courtesy Photo
State Sen. Steve McClure said that he feels Democrats are pushing to redraw political districts without census data because they believe it will benefit them politically. | Courtesy Photo
As the Illinois General Assembly begins work on planned redistricting, state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) expressed concern that Democratic legislators are rushing the process without having all the information.
McClure posted some of his concerns to his Facebook page on March 23, along with a link to media coverage regarding the insufficient information lawmakers have to base their work on.
“These redistricting hearings are being rushed forward before we even have the necessary census data,” McClure said.
There also seems to be a failure by lawmakers to make the necessary effort to keep the public apprised of their work and involved in the process, he said.
“The hearings that have taken place thus far have had little advance public notice,” he said. “They have also taken place at inconvenient times that make them difficult for all of the people in the affected regions to attend.”
With Democrats already in a historically dominant position in the state, McClure alleged that the motives for pushing forward with redistricting appear to be a desire by Democratic legislators to ensure they come out of the process ahead of any challengers.
“The only reason to rush this process right now is for partisan political gain,” he said.
Under the Illinois state Constitution, the General Assembly has until Wednesday, June 30, each year following a national census to approve a new redistricting plan. But delays in the recent census created by the COVID-19 pandemic mean that the results aren’t expected to be published until at least the end of September.
If the state doesn’t make the June deadline, the Constitution calls for appointing an eight-member panel of four Republicans and Democrats to create the redistricting map, WCIA reported. If no result is reached before Aug. 10, the Illinois Supreme Court can appoint a ninth member to serve as a tie-breaking vote.
While Republicans favor holding off on redistricting until the census data is available, Democrats have been claiming that elongating the process would prevent public participation, WCIA reported.
Alerts Sign-up