By David Stanczak

We’re b-a-a-c-k! Last year, I told you about an attempt to bring about independent redistricting of Illinois House and Senate districts by means of an amendment to the Illinois Constitution, which would set up an independent body to map out the legislative districts on a rational basis, independent of the political considerations that have produced the lopsided, incumbent-prone gerrymandered mess that characterizes our state. It isn’t the cause of the systemic corruption we have in Illinois, but it encourages and perpetuates it.

The last effort was an attempt to get the referendum on the ballot last November. It didn’t happen, despite the fact that the group garnered far more signatures than were required to get on the ballot. Two things kept it off. The first was an attempt by Mike Madigan and the other powers that be to challenge enough signatures to keep the proposition off the ballot. That effort didn’t come to fruition only because a judge in Cook County ruled that the language of the proposition was insufficient to meet the standards for an amendment to the Illinois Constitution. The group organizing the effort decided to let it drop rather than get into a high pressure conflict right before the election.   So it died.

But the measure is now being resurrected. Yesterday, the group. Independent Map Amendment announced a new effort to get the job done. It is open for election business and has already begun circulating petitions with copies of the new language, which will meet constitutional muster, and which will be circulated in plenty of time to get enough signatures on the ballot.

I’ve already gotten the petition forms with the constitutional languageon the back and am ready to start rounding up signatures to get the matter on the ballot for the November 2016 election.

If you are approached by an IMA circulator (and you’re a registered voter), please sign the petition. If you want to find out more about the organization or get petitions to circulate yourself (if you’re 18 or over), you can call their office at 312-806-4764 or e-mail them at [email protected].

Let’s un-gerrymander this state.

David Stanczak, a Forum commentator since 1995, came to Bloomington in 1971. He served as the City of Bloomington’s first full-time legal counsel for over 18 years, before entering private practice. He is currently employed by the Snyder Companies and continues to reside in Bloomington with his family.

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