About Gerrymandering in Illinois

An uninitiated observer looking at a map of Illinois legislative districts might be mystified by the boundaries – which seem to follow no logical pattern. District boundaries snake across the state in bizarre patterns.

But, like a mystery novel’s secret code hidden in plain sight, there is a clear pattern that makes perfect sense to those who know the code.

Mapmakers study voting patterns based on such variables as age, ethnicity, income, geography and education. Using sophisticated computer programs, they can draw maps that will virtually guarantee candidates of one political party will consistently be chosen over candidates from an opposing party.

It is the hidden pattern of political preference that defines the political boundary lines for Illinois Senate and Illinois House.

Because district boundaries are only drawn every decade, Illinois must adopt reforms before the 2012 election or endure another decade of bizarre districts lines and legally-stolen elections.

Illinois’ long history of questionable election practices has become ingrained in American folklore.

But, elections can be rigged without violating any laws. Partisan gerrymandering is not only legal, it is embedded in the Illinois Constitution.

The Illinois Reform Commission, appointed by Governor Pat Quinn, had harsh words for Illinois’ system of drawing legislative districts, declaring that it “deprives Illinois voters of fair representation,” that it places Illinois voters in direct conflict with legislators, and “regardless of which party wins, the people of Illinois are the losers…”

While even the framers of the 1970 Illinois Constitution have acknowledged that the system they devised has failed, there has been little public pressure to change it. That’s because the drawing of legislative districts is a technical and arcane process, done behind closed doors.

Over the next year, Illinoisans have a critical decision to make. Will they demand fair elections, or will they once again allow the political insiders to rig the game before the opening bell even sounds?