Republicans Challenge State Legislative Map in Federal Court

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Republicans and Concerned Citizens File Lawsuit to

Invalidate 2011 Legislative Map

 CHICAGO…..Today in Federal Court, minority leaders from the Illinois House and Senate, along with many concerned citizens, filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the 2011 General Assembly redistricting map.

Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) said he supports the effort to challenge the validity of the map. “House Minority Leader Tom Cross and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno will serve as plaintiffs in the suit,” said Tryon. “The map, drawn by Democrats behind closed doors, protects their party’s grip on Illinois politics for the next 10 years and takes away from many people the most sacred right they have in a democratic society- the right to vote.”

Three state senate and state representative districts meet in Crystal Lake.

According to Tryon, the group who filed the suit believes the new map is in direct violation of the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and other elements of the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions. Specifically, the suit claims that African Americans and Latinos have not been provided a fair opportunity to participate in the political process. It also claims that the map violates the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it dilutes the voting power of Republican voters throughout the state.

“For years we have pushed for a redistricting process that takes the redrawing of legislative maps out of the hands of politicians so that a fair map can be computer-generated,” said Tryon. “That effort was blocked by the Democrats and today we renew our belief in a fair map that protects all residents’ rights for the next decade and beyond.”

If the plaintiffs are successful, the court could direct the General Assembly to redraw the district boundaries of all or parts of the state within a specific deadline, it could direct a “Special Master” to redraw the lines, or it could direct a Legislative Redistricting Commission, as provided by the Constitution, to draw the boundaries with equal appointments made by the four legislative leaders of the Illinois House and Senate.


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