Kankakee Times

Minority Spokesman for the Senate Committee on Redistricting Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) discussed with a witness her point of view on the constitutional deadline.

Former League of Women Voters director Abigail Nichols said she is testifying on her behalf and not representing any of her organizations including FairVote Illinois.

“You mentioned (that) references made by some to constitutional deadlines made you believe that you did not think some cared about creating fair maps,” Barickman said. “Can you explain your point there?"

"There are some maps that look funny to me," Nichol replied. "I live in the most gerrymandered ward in Chicago." Nichols added she “would prefer that the assembly go to the Supreme Court and got the deadline set aside.”

“Are you aware the constitution promises an Oct. 5-deadline?” Barickman asked. “You’re not suggesting that that date be moved, or are you?"

The state constitution requires that lawmakers have agreed-on maps by June 30. If this is not met, a bipartisan committee of four members from each caucus would be formed and would have until Aug. 10 to approve maps. “If this, too, fails, a ninth person would be randomly selected to help draw the maps by Oct. 5,” the Illinois Policy reported.

“The League of Women Voters issued a press release calling for the general assembly to only use the census data that won’t be available until August,” Barickman said. “Is that the data you referenced in your comments?”

Nichols responded that she thinks the census data would be much better and suggested lawmakers “slow down and do this right.”

The holdup on the U.S. Census Bureau’s work was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.