SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois House Republican leaders filed a lawsuit before the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday claiming the current House district map disenfranchises voters.
Democratic lawmakers approved the current House, Senate and congressional maps during the redistricting process in 2021. However, Republicans argue the current house districts are not compact and violate the free and equal elections clause of the Illinois constitution.
House GOP leaders hope the Illinois Supreme Court will invalidate the House map and appoint a special master to draw an independent map.
"It's certainly wrong for politicians to be choosing the voters that they would like to represent," said Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria). "It should work the other way around."
Spain argues 52 of the 118 House districts are currently unconstitutional because they are not compact. Advocates fighting for independent redistricting brought up many of these points during legislative hearings in 2021.
"The people of Illinois are being deliberately disenfranchised by the majority party who wishes to make sure that their vote doesn't count, that their vote is not able to affect the direction of our state in selecting the people who represent them," Spain said. "That is wrong. It is illegal and unconstitutional."
The GOP lawsuit was filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections as the board oversees legislative elections.
The new redistricting process for every state is slated for 2031, but Republicans hope Illinois can see significant changes before then. Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) noted that this issue impacts voters of all political beliefs.
"We are talking about Democrats who don't feel they're having their voices heard in their votes and Republicans that don't have their voices heard in their votes," Ugaste said. "That's not the way we are set up to work. It's not the way our government is supposed to work, and we need to change it."
A spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections told WAND news Tuesday night that the board does not comment on pending litigation. Although, House Democrats were quick to criticize the House GOP lawsuit.
"Leader McCombie can't justify her party leader's unlawful attempt to slash services working families need to access healthcare, afford rent, and put food on the table, so she is choosing to distract people by relitigating a matter that courts decided years ago," said House Democratic spokesperson Jon Maxon.
This is a developing story.
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