Here’s everything you need to know about the Fair Maps Illinois amendment and why it matters.
Q: Why does Illinois need fair maps?
A: Because the current redistricting process is controlled by politicians who draw maps to protect their power—not to reflect communities. That’s why half of Illinois legislative races go uncontested and why voters feel like their votes don’t matter. Fair maps would change that.
Q: What is gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is when politicians manipulate the boundaries of electoral districts to benefit themselves or their party. It often results in strangely shaped districts that break up communities and rig elections before a single vote is cast.
Q: What makes this amendment different from past efforts?
A: In 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down a proposed redistricting amendment on procedural grounds. We’ve learned from that. The Fair Maps Illinois amendment works within the existing constitutional framework and is designed to survive legal scrutiny. It is supported by constitutional scholars and bipartisan legal experts who have led redistricting reform initiatives in other states.
Q: What would the new process look like?
The amendment establishes a redistricting commission that must follow clear legal standards:
Q: What’s the timeline?
A: We’re collecting signatures in 2025 and 2026 to put the Fair Maps Amendment on the November 2026 ballot. With your help, Illinois voters will finally have the chance to say yes to real reform.
Q: How do other states draw their maps?
A: Illinois is the national poster child for political gerrymandering that protects status quo politicians. For example, the Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave Illinois an F for its maps.
States like Arizona, California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania have reformed their redistricting process in recent years to take power away from status quo politicians. Those efforts were pushed by both Democrats and Republicans, as well as nonpartisan legal scholars, to reform their broken systems.
Q: How can I help?
You can:
Visit our Get Involved page to sign up.
Q: Didn’t see your question?
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