2012: What’s next for Illinois citizens post-redistricting?

by Brian Costin According to the Illinois State Constitution,“In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts.” The redistricting process in Illinois has always been a hyper-political process subject to vast criticism, and this year’s redistricting process is no exception. However, the Illinois...

by Brian Costin

According to the Illinois State Constitution,“In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts.”

The redistricting process in Illinois has always been a hyper-political process subject to vast criticism, and this year’s redistricting process is no exception. However, the Illinois redistricting process has met its likely final conclusion.

At this point, for those dedicated to supporting free market principles and liberty-based public policy solutions for a better Illinois, any focus remaining on the redistricting issue should shift from complaining about the map to engaging the map.

To help turn around the State of Illinois here are some things to do in the coming year.

• Find your current elected officials (through January 2012) here.
• Find your new legislative district maps (January 2012 and beyond) here.
• Find out who is running for office in 2012 in your local Senate and House district.
• Ask elected officials and candidates to sign the “Repeal the Tax Hike Pledge”.
• Join the Illinois Policy Institute’s “Adopt-A-District” program.

By joining our “Adopt-A-District” program you can become an Illinois Policy Institute’s “District Liaison” to help advocate for free-market principles to elected officials in your area, and;

• Participate in one of our “Adopt-A-District” activist training classes.
• Participate in our “Capitol Day” and visit your legislator in Springfield in May 2012.
• Participate in an Illinois Policy Institute “District Lobby Day” in your district.
• Form an local “Adopt-A-District” group.
• and more.

Please contact Brian Costin at bcostin@illinoispolicy.org for more information on the “Adopt-A-District” program.