It’s really not that much of a mystery
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a long piece about redistricting…
The Illinois Constitution says lawmakers have until June 30 to pass new legislative maps. If they don’t, map-making goes to a commission of eight people, four from each party. This group must agree on maps by Aug. 10. If five members don’t approve the maps, the name of either a Republican or Democrat is drawn from a hat to choose a ninth member to break the tie by Oct. 5.
“It is not my belief that the people of Illinois would rather us have our redistricting on whose name, Republican or Democrat, is pulled out of a top hat,” said state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, arguing he believes Illinoisans would rather lawmakers use the best data they have now than leave map-making up to a random drawing. […]
Democrats say they have to draw a map by June 30 per the constitution. Republicans say they can wait for the Census. The constitution says lawmakers “shall” handle the redistricting process, but does not mandate maps to be complete by June 30 and creates a process for lawmakers to handle redistricting after June 30.
There’s really no need for this he-said/she-said stuff.
The Democrats want to avoid that October lottery, which gives the Republican Party a 50/50 chance of controlling the remap process. Republicans want to delay the process for the same reason. That’s it.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:51 pm:
If they go all out they would likely be able to Gerrymander a majority in at least one of the chambers, but that would likely create some academically fascinating court challenges to be decided by a U.S. Supreme Court with a conservative majority with multiple Trump appointees.
So don’t be surprised if the GOP goes to the mattresses over this redistricting issue and refuses to display any map until they know whether or not they have won.
I’m not sure anyone on the Democratic side of the aisle is really ready for this possibility if it occurs.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:54 pm:
Thank you for the posting. The last time the a ninth member was used was 20 years ago, which, let’s be honest, most people don’t remember.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 1:55 pm:
=== The Democrats want to avoid that October lottery, which gives the Republican Party a 50/50 chance of controlling the remap process. Republicans want to delay the process for the same reason. That’s it.===
With 73 and 41… and a governor committed to signing (not committed to vetoing)…
The “thing” is…
Winning solves a great deal… the Raunerites wanted “Rauner Purity”. They’re 15 seats down. Maybe get it to single digits first…
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
I guess to close my thought;
The HRaunerites are trying to shame the HDems by highlighting process… will the shaming stop a map being passed by June 30th?
- DuPage Saint - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:03 pm:
I always thought the name was to be drawn out of Lincoln’s top hat but that may just be a story. My question is does it come out of Lincoln’s hat and do we have to prove it was Lincoln’s hat? If it is a fake Lincoln hate would it be a fake map? So many questions and so little time.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:08 pm:
The few Republicans remaining in the GA are likely to be “gifted” some pretty solid R districts in a Dem remap. On the other hand, an R map that tries for an R majority will, by necessity, put many incumbent Republicans in districts where they have a slim majority.
Note to Republicans: Be careful what you wish for.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
=That’s it.=
And that is the ball game right there.
The rest is just noise.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:19 pm:
==My question is does it come out of Lincoln’s hat and do we have to prove it was Lincoln’s hat? If it is a fake Lincoln hate would it be a fake map? So many questions and so little time.==
And can we be rest assured that the Lincoln hat from the Taper Collection will not be used in case of a tie?
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:33 pm:
The IL Constitution sez:
(b) In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts”
Nuthin’ about what numbers to use, nuthin’ about which do-gooder to heed just redistrict after the census. No mystery at all
- The Law - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 2:51 pm:
In case you want all words in the section of the Constitution about redistricting. Here they are:
SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING
(a) Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population. Representative Districts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.
(b) In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts.
If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of that year, a Legislative Redistricting Commission shall be constituted not later than July 10. The Commission shall consist of eight members, no more than four of whom shall be
members of the same political party.
The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint to the Commission one Representative and one person who is not a member of the General Assembly. The President and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint to the Commission one Senator and
one person who is not a member of the General Assembly.
The members shall be certified to the Secretary of State by the appointing authorities. A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled within five days by the authority that made the original appointment. A Chairman and Vice Chairman shall
be chosen by a majority of all members of the Commission.
Not later than August 10, the Commission shall file with the Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by at least five members.
If the Commission fails to file an approved redistricting plan, the Supreme Court shall submit the names of two persons, not of the same political party, to the Secretary of
State not later than September 1.
Not later than September 5, the Secretary of State publicly shall draw by random selection the name of one of the two persons to serve as the ninth member of the Commission.
Not later than October 5, the Commission shall file with the Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by at least five members.
An approved redistricting plan filed with the Secretary of State shall be presumed valid, shall have the force and effect of law and shall be published promptly by the Secretary of State.
The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over actions concerning redistricting the House and Senate, which shall be initiated in the name of the People of the State by the Attorney General.
(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4,
1980.)
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 3:41 pm:
=== That’s it. ===
Bingo. Rich is right on. Crowd applause GIF
- Annonin' - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 5:08 pm:
Mr/Ms Law
All the stuff you added was about what happens after June 30 NOT what should be happening now or what numbers, flavors of bath oils or any other element should be used.
- NotRich - Tuesday, May 11, 21 @ 5:16 pm:
1 out of 10 residents know what “redistricting” is.. less than half of them care.. Repubs need to put some big boy pants on and go win a few elections