What fair maps in Illinois would look like

In our system of government, the people are supposed to choose their representatives. The reality is the opposite: Elected lawmakers drawlegislative and congressional districts to give one party or the other an advantage and to protect themselves from losing their seats.

Illinois has suffered fromthat practice, whichHouse Speaker MichaelMadigan has made it a point to maintain.

A 2019 poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern IllinoisUniversity found that 67% of Illinoisanswant redistricting— which will unfold next year— taken away from selfserving politicians and handed over to an independent commission. But in its spring session, and many sessions before it, the General Assembly denied giving voters a chance to make that change.

Yes, voters, you should be outraged that your state lawmakers only “allow” you to vote on amendments theywant, such as the tax hike amendment on this year’s ballot. As long asMadigan is in charge, there will be no independently drawn maps.

Butwe do have an idea of what theywould look like.

The Better Government Association commissioned a consulting firm to produce amap with “compact, contiguous districts thatwere close to equal in population, that protect minority representation and preserve communities.” Unlike legislators, the consultants didn’t try to help one party.

What they gotwere state Senate, stateHouse andU.S. House districts that are simpler and less contorted in shape. Cities and towns that are currently split into multiple districts— such as Rockford, Peoria and Collinsville— are no longer divided.

Contrary to what youmight expect, this planwouldn’t give a big boost to Republicans, who have been shut out of reapportionment. The BGA says the partisan balancewould most likely remain the same. The most notable change? “A surprising number of incumbentswould find themselves in a districtwith another incumbent— sometimes fromthe same party, sometimes not.” They would have to run against each other, find a new district or give up their seats. And dozens of districtswould have no incumbent, ensuring a big group of fresh faces in Springfield.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said he won’t sign a partisan remap. We’ll see. Whatwe do knowis the BGA’s experiment gives reformers a little more leverage: Here’s what a fair map looks like, governor. Stillwant to sign into lawthe crooked one?