New redistricting lawsuit seeks to restart the whole process

New redistricting lawsuit seeks to restart the whole process

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The League of Women Voters of Illinois is asking a federal court to order a big change in the highly political, once-a-decade redistricting process. It’s the latest suit tied to Illinois’ new boundaries for U.S. House and state legislative districts.

The League last year tried to change how Illinois draws the boundaries, but its petition drive to get a proposal on the ballot came up short. Now the group is asking the courts to get involved.

In its lawsuit, the League claims its members’ First Amendment rights were violated when Democratic leaders took into account party identification while drawing the maps. The lawsuit says this “unlawfully attempt[s] to control or influence the kinds of views, opinions and speech that residents placed in those districts are likely to express or hear or receive.”

Illinois Republicans, who have a lot to lose if the Democratic-drawn maps stand, have also asked the courts to get involved.

But the League’s lawsuit notes both parties have engaged in partisan gerrymandering in the past and wants the court to order a new process driven by “impartial” decision-makers.

But the League’s president, Jan Dorner, acknowledged on that such a change may not be possible before next year’s election.