WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderCall to overhaul redistricting system in Illinois

Call to overhaul redistricting system in Illinois

By Samantha Ptashkin

ROCKFORD (WREX)- A call from various government organizations to overhaul the state's redistricting system has some local lawmakers talking.

Every 10 years legislators re-draw district lines to make sure each citizen in Illinois is represented. As we approach that time some people question the integrity of the system. "We think every two years there should be a fair and open process to elect a representative," Representative Jim Sacia (R-89th) says.

Sacia says with the current redistricting system that's not happening. It gives party leaders the power to draw their own district lines, which Sacia says favors the incumbent. In Illinois incumbents have a 98% re-election rate. "We'll use the example, if you have a republican entrenched in a republican community and that person has been there for years, it discourages someone from running against that person and it happens in both political parties," Sacia says.

Each member of the house represents 105,000 citizens, while each state senator represents 210,000. Government organizations propose forming an independent commission to decide who represents each of those citizens. Sacia suggests a computer system. "It's time to take it out of the politicians hands and make it equitable based upon strictly population, as opposed to political horsepower," Sacia says.

"I know we talk about how some things need to change from time to time, but why now?" Representative Chuck Jefferson (R-67th) says.

Jefferson doesn't necessarily oppose a system overhaul, but isn't sure it's the right solution. "Is it to give the people that might be running for the first time an advantage and give a disadvantage to incumbents?"

Organization's calling for the overhaul must collect 500,000 signatures from registered voters who support the change by April 1. Then it can go on the November 2010 ballot as a constitutional amendment.