* Capitol News Illinois…

Plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan have filed new complaints in federal court charging that the district maps that lawmakers approved in August dilute Latino voting power and thus violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational fund, or MALDEF, and legislative Republican leaders both argue that while the Latino population in Illinois experienced strong growth over the last 10 years, the new maps actually reduce the number of Latino “opportunity” districts – those in which Latinos make up 50 percent or more of the voting-age population.

“The General Assembly did not merely fail to create more Latino opportunity districts, it created fewer of them,” MALDEF argued in its latest filing. […]

In both cases, plaintiffs are now asking a three-judge federal panel to declare the maps unconstitutional under the one-person-one-vote doctrine as well as illegal under the federal Voting Rights Act, which prohibits states from using any “standard, practice or procedure” that results in the denial of the right of any citizen to vote on the basis of race or membership in a recognized language minority group.

In their amended complaints, both sets of plaintiffs argue that while Illinois lost population overall between 2010 and 2020, the Latino population grew by more than more than 300,000, to just over 2.3 million, while the Latino voting-age population – people 18 years of age and older – grew to just over 1 million. That meant their overall share of the state’s population grew to 18.2 percent, up from 15.8 percent, while their share of the voting-age population grew to 11.2 percent, up from 8 percent.

* Meanwhile…

The House Redistricting Committee will hold a series of public hearings to gather public input as the General Assembly begins the process of creating new congressional and judicial subcircuit boundaries.

As Democrats remain committed to enacting a fair map that reflects the broad racial and geographic diversity of Illinois, hearings will be held at several locations throughout the state. In addition, all of the hearings will include a virtual component to ensure stakeholders from across the state can safely participate during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the public will have the option to provide testimony in person or virtually, submit electronic testimony or submit electronic witness slips in advance of the hearings via the General Assembly website www.ilga.gov or through email at redistrictingcommittee@hds.ilga.gov.

House hearings are as scheduled:

· Thursday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional Map
o Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL
· Friday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m. – Subject Matter: Cook County Subcircuit Map
o Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL
· Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional & Subcircuit Map
o Plumbers Local 130 UA, 2114 S. I-80 Frontage Road, Joliet, IL
· Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 12 p.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional & Subcircuit Map
o Belvidere Recreation Center, 412 Lewis Ave., Waukegan, IL
· Thursday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional & Subcircuit Map
o Illinois State Capitol, 301 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL
· Thursday, Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional & Subcircuit Map
o Peoria Public Library Auditorium, 107 NE Monroe, Peoria, IL
· Friday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. – Subject Matter: Congressional Map
o Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville National Corn to Ethanol Research Center,
400 University Park Drive, Edwardsville, IL

“As this redistricting process continues, our goal remains the same: to pass a map that adheres to state and federal law while ensuring the final product is reflective of the great diversity of this state,” said Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, Chairperson of the House Redistricting Committee. “I look forward to hearing from the public so that we can ensure Illinois has a strong representation in Congress.”

The House Redistricting Committee has relaunched the online map making portal to allow residents to draw and submit proposed boundaries for lawmakers to consider. The map making portal can be accessed at www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting. While the portal will remain open for the duration of these redistricting efforts, residents are encouraged to submit their proposals as soon as possible so that they may be considered as the new boundaries are drawn. Returning users that have previously used the portal do not need to create a new account.

For more information visit www.ilhousedems.com/redistricting, or www.ilga.gov .