How to stop gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor, Aimee Morrissey

08/11/2022

Illinois can draw from other states’ experiences to solve its own gerrymandering problem. One solid solution is as close as Michigan.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, Illinois

38 challengers give Illinois voters first choices in decades

By Dylan Sharkey

07/31/2022

Alper Turan fled Iran 24 years ago to seek a better life for himself and his family. He wants to help his new home by being one of 38 candidates recruited by Illinois Policy to run for the Illinois General Assembly. He wants voters to have a choice.

TAGS: election, gerrymandering, Illinois, vote-by-mail

2022 Illinois elections to be the most competitive in over 24 years

By Bryce Hill, Jon Josko

05/11/2022

With 82 statehouse races expected to be contested – the most in at least 24 years – the number of ballots cast could reach 4.3 million. That would be the highest non-presidential year figure in recent history.

TAGS: ballot, elections, gerrymandering, Illinois

Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices

By Patrick Andriesen

05/11/2022

Progressive voices decry voter suppression in states such as Texas, but the very blue state of Illinois is guilty of rampant voter suppression using a system of maps and rules that defeat many challengers before they ever get on the ballot. A new effort is working to change that.

TAGS: ballot, gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, voter suppression

Democrats’ legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

The plaintiffs representing Black and Latino voters argued Illinois Democrats’ new legislative maps are gerrymandered to break up voting blocs, diluting minority voting power during the next decade.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Pritzker again breaks veto promise, signs gerrymandered congressional maps

By Patrick Andriesen

12/01/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the congressional district map designed to boost Democrats in the U.S. House. With districts that snake and twist across the state, gerrymandering remains a hallmark of Illinois politics despite Pritzker’s pledge to veto such maps.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

4.7 million Illinoisans had no choice for state representative

By Dylan Sharkey

11/16/2021

Democracy depends on giving voters choices, but in Illinois nearly half the seats in the state legislature are filled without giving voters more than one name. A choice of one is no choice.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, Illinois, redistricting

Democrats pass gerrymandered congressional map No. 4

By Joe Tabor

10/29/2021

Illinois Democrats finally passed the fourth draft of their congressional district map after earlier versions prompted criticism from the Hispanic community and even fellow Democrats. A university gave several versions an “F.”

TAGS: congress, corruption, Democrats, elections, fair maps, gerrymandering, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, illinois House, JB Pritzker, legislative, maps

Illinois’ ‘extreme’ risk of gerrymandering becomes reality through congressional map

By Robert Brutvan

10/16/2021

The Illinois congressional map proposal released by Democrats has districts that are far from compact, snaking to catch and avoid populations. Republicans label it the ‘Nancy Pelosi Protection Plan.’

TAGS: gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, redistricting

Illinois lawmakers enact gerrymandered political maps

By Joe Tabor

09/01/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to pass fair maps. On Aug. 31, politicians enacted maps that go back on that promise.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map