State Supreme Court Strikes Down Map Drawing by Independent Commission

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Published on August 26 2016 12:14 pm
Last Updated on August 26 2016 12:14 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Illinois Supreme Court dealt the final blow for the effort to let voters decide if state legislative maps should be drawn by an independent commission.

In a 4-3 decision, the Court ruled that the Fair Maps question would not be allowed on the November ballot.

The majority opinion stated that the measure didn't fit the narrowly-constructed requirements set forth by the constitution. A blistering dissent was written by Justice Robert Thomas saying at the outset, "The Illinois Constitution is meant to prevent tyranny, not to enshrine it."

Governor Bruce Rauner, a long-time supporter of the effort, said in an emailed statement that "fair maps create fair districts. The system is broken and controlled by career politicians. People leave when they cannot hold their politicians accountable."

This is the second time in two years that the effort to get the question on the ballot has failed.