With every census comes the tortuous process of congressional redistricting. One Illinois group is hoping to make that process a little bit less messy, though they'll need some help.
According to the State Journal-Register, the coalition supporting the Illinois Fair Map Amendment -- which would put redistricting in the hands of an independent commission -- is extending its self-imposed deadline from March 31 to April 16 to collect the nearly 300,000 signatures required for a constitutional amendment.
Under the current system, legislators draw the new maps themselves, behind closed doors. As a result, the coalition says, 98 percent of elections in the Illinois legislature are won by incumbents -- lawmakers draw the districts to solidify their own support.
The amendment would create an independent nine-person panel to draw the districts, of which "no member can be a lobbyist, immediate family member, public or political official, contractor or employee of the State of Illinois."
This idea has gotten support from the left and the right; the coalition behind the Fair Map Amendment is spearheaded by the League of Women Voters, but its partners also include the right-leaning Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity.
Still, in order to bypass the legislature and put the amendment on the November ballot, the group will need to obtain more than 279,000 signatures on its petitions by May 3. It had previously set a goal of March 31 to meet that goal, but has now pushed the dates back a couple of weeks.
The League of Women Voters of Illinois argued that there was "nothing to read into" the date change, according to the Southtown Star. Executive director Jan Czarnik said, "[P]eople are asking for more time. With people saying, 'Please, please when is the real deadline?' We're saying, 'OK, OK. Really, it's April 16th.'"
To read and sign the petition, or for more information about the amendment, visit the coalition's website.