Sangamon Sun

Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly are pushing for reforms in how redistricting maps are created with the recent introduction of the People’s Independent Maps Act, which would hand the process over to an independent commission.

State House Assistant Minority Leader Tim Butler (R-Springfield) took to social media to emphasize the importance of removing politics from the redistricting process.

“Reforming our redistricting process is something I have supported during my entire time in the General Assembly,” Butler said in a post to his official Facebook page. “Today we unveiled yet another opportunity to make sure legislators don't draw their own maps.”

Butler was joined by other legislative leaders in introducing the legislation, a press release on his official website states. They included Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods), House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Senate Republican Caucus Chair Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington).

The legislation, Senate Bill 1325, uses identical language to previous efforts to reform the process in past years that garnered bipartisan support, according to the press release. 

Under the proposed changes, a 16-member commission appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court would be responsible for drawing future redistricting maps. The release states, the commission would be formed in such a way as to be demographically representative of the state as well.