Chicago City Wire

Chicago Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez is stressing the need for lawmakers to get things right when redrawing the state's voter maps.

“I think there have been changes in the decade and changes will be reflected as we have more of the population,” Sigcho-Lopez told a House Redistricting Committee during a recent hearing on the issue. “The community has been growing rapidly and I’ve also seen great concern in recent trends where migration trends are changing and people (are) leaving the city. So, I think in terms of representation it’s something that … at this point a lot of work needs to be done”

The task of redrawing district maps is typically left to the party in charge. But since complete data from the Census Bureau used to create the maps won't be available by the June 30 deadline, Republicans see a window of opportunity in the delay. 

GOP lawmakers are pushing the People’s Independent Maps Act as a way of bringing that about. The measure would give the state Supreme Court the power to appoint 16 independent citizens to a redistricting commission within 30 days of passage. The members would be equally split politically.

Sigcho-Lopez says he feels the time is now.

“We want to make sure the representation is reflected,” he added. “I think we can do more for rural communities.”