標題: 4444 and we will start earlier with our petition drive and be even better organ [打印本頁] 作者: etgdptfen 時間: 2015-12-28 13:28 標題: 4444 and we will start earlier with our petition drive and be even better organ Independent maps group must persevere
Recently the Yes for Independent Maps campaign withdrew its petitions seeking a ballot referendum on a constitutional amendment to finally change Illinois seriously flawed redistricting process. The campaign received a Cook County court ruling that upheld most of the components of our redistricting initiative but found that a part of it went beyond the proper scope of a constitutional amendment.
This court decision and the battles we were having to wage with the State Board of Elections on the validity of our 530,000 petition signatures were disappointing and frustrating. The NikeXXX fairness of the process was questionable. Notwithstanding, we built an unprecedented, bipartisan statewide coalition of more than 5,000 volunteers and 1,000 contributors, including groups as broad based as AARP Illinois, the League of Women Voters, the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and grassroots organizations representing diverse and minority communities. In particular, the volunteers in Peoria, Morton, Bloomington and Champaign were heroic in the huge numbers of petitions turned in.
I personally have been involved with redistricting reform for five years, and while disheartened, I am in no way ready to throw in the towel. This is the most important reform that can help return good government to the Land of Lincoln.
The redistricting reform would not have taken effect until after the 2020 Census. We still have at least two statewide elections in 2016 and 2018 to bring redistricting reform before Illinois voters. We will revise our constitutional amendment consistent with the court decision, and we will start earlier with our petition drive and be even better organized.
Redistricting reform elsewhere in America has been just as difficult. For example, California recent reform required three attempts before it became reality.
There were many valuable lessons learned from this campaign. We now know clearly to what lengths the powerful status quo will go to fight real redistricting reform. Next time, we will need even more volunteers and financial resources. We simply cannot give up on this critical cause. The future of Illinois is at stake.
Brad McMillan was a leader in the Independent Maps effort locally, and is executive director of the Institute of Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University. He lives in Peoria.