SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois House Republicans are accusing the other side of the aisle of using a proposed constitutional amendment for gerrymandering.
On Tuesday, State Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) was joined by fellow Representatives Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) and Amy Elik (R-Alton) to criticize House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28.
HJRCA 28 was introduced by Democratic House Speaker Chris Welch, and would change what is prioritized when developing legislative maps in the state. If approved by both chambers by May 3rd, the question would be on the November ballot.
Current standards prioritize that maps must be “compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.” HJRCA 28 would make the top priority equal population, but add and increase the importance of electing candidates based on race and create racial coalition districts.
Spain says the bill is in response to a lawsuit last year, in which Republicans allege that the current maps passed by Democrats violate the compactness standard in 52 of the state’s 118 House districts.
“They’re advancing changes at the 11th hour to further disenfranchise voters,” Spain said. “They have been caught cheating, and they want to change the rules of the game to preserve their ability to cheat and disenfranchise voters.”
Republicans also claim Welch’s bill is motivated by a case from Louisiana in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, which challenges the creation of majority-Black Congressional districts.
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