McClure: 'Why are citizens and groups getting such short notice to participate?'

Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) | Illinois Senate Republican Caucus

By Bree Gonzales

Mar 31, 2021

In a recent redistricting committee hearing, state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) urged fellow legislators to engage the community in the redistricting process.

McClure said the public is being sidelined from engaging in redistricting hearings when they're not being given enough notice.

“This is the fourth committee hearing on the remap in the last six days,” he said. “There has been a reoccurring theme in each one. Why are citizens and groups getting such short notice to participate?”

Pointing out that the data from the Census Bureau, a basis for redrawing the map, is delayed, he argued that hearings that have been scheduled in less than 14 days are not advisable.

“Numerous (groups) have asked for at least two weeks for these hearings,” McClure said. “And we echo those requests. There is no need to rush these hearings because the official data has been delayed and it will not be here until this fall."

He said that it is important to ensure that the thoughts and ideas from the public are considered and that the constituents should be able to determine who’s going to represent them and not the other way around.

“We agree with numerous advocacy groups that have testified in support of an independent commission where citizens choose their elected officials instead of the process where partisan politicians choose who they want to represent. We encourage the committee here to listen to the witnesses and provide answers to the very important questions they may ask.”

According to an opinion article by Rep. David S. Olsen (R-Illinois) and Sen. Frank LaRose (R-Ohio), gerrymandering has become the standard practice in the state when it comes to redrawing legislative maps. Over the years, there has been a call for independent maps.

Early this year prison gerrymandering was also looked into where a bill was passed to prohibit “the practice of counting incarcerated people at their prison’s location rather than their last residence for the purposes of redistricting and apportionment,” Prairie State Wire reported.