An Introduction to Illinois Redistricting
The 2010 Census results are in, and the big news is that Illinois has grown a mere 3% in the last decade, while Chicago has shrunk by nearly 7%, or 200,000 people. The data indicates that black and Hispanic Chicagoans are migrating from the city to the suburbs, taking up residence in Chicago’s so-called collar counties. As a result of these shifts, Illinois lost one US Congressional seat, and Chicago stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
The shifts also foretell changes to various voter districts, as part of the mysterious decennial process called legislative “redistricting.” Redistricting is the mapping of Legislative Districts across the state. Each Legislative District is represented in the General Assembly by one state senator, and two state representatives. Article IV of the Illinois Constitution mandates that Legislative Districts be distributed “substantially equally” throughout the state. Thus, regions of the state that have gained residents may be divided into multiple districts, while those with declining population will see a consolidation of districts.
Redistricting can dramatically affect the voting power of demographic groups. For example, if a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood comprises the majority of voters in one district, then that group will be more successful if it wishes to vote as a bloc. On the other hand, if that same neighborhood is split into two districts, then the Hispanic population may not hold a majority vote in either district. There is a long political history in the United States of “gerrymandering,” or strategic redistricting to weaken minority voting power.
The Illinois General Assembly is at the helm of redistricting, a secretive process subject to little oversight or community input. Unethical redistricting is a real possibility. Chicago Appleseed has joined Draw the Line Illinois, a coalition of organizations intent on introducing transparency and fairness to the once-in-a-decade process of defining legislative districts. Check back here for more information as the Illinois General Assembly redraws the voter map.