DeKalb Times

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is sponsoring the People's Independent Maps Act (SB 1325) which would prevent elected officials from being involved in redistricting in Illinois. 

This is an attempt to remedy gerrymandering in the state. 

"Under Illinois’ current system, politicians have the power to draw the district maps for the next ten years, manipulating the system to silence voters and keep majority-party politicians in power," Syverson said in a post on his Facebook page on April 9. "This proposal is our way of seeking to restore public trust in the system by putting an end to the absurd practice of politicians picking their voters."

In addition to co-sponsoring SB 1325, Syverson is the sub-minority spokesperson of the Senate Northern Illinois Redistricting Subcommittee. 

Under the bill, the Legislative, Representative and Congressional Districts would be created by an independent commission of 16 members appointed by the state Supreme Court. This is a change from the boundaries currently being created by elected legislators.

The independent commission would also be representative of the ethnic and gender demographics of Illinois and would be evenly split according to party affiliation. For the sake of transparency the independent commission is required to hold at least 10 public hearings before a plan is announced and at least four after one is announced.The bill only applies to the 2021 redistricting cycle.