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Rep. Tom Cross, R-84th, and Sen. Christine Radongo, R-94th, filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections in the Northern District of Illinois today in an effort to invalidate the 2011 General Assembly redistricting map.
Cross said the map violates the Federal Voting Rights Act because African-Americans and Latinos have not had a "fair opportunity to participate in the political process" in that the map was not made public with enough time for sufficient review.
"We are optimistic that the court will agree with us and will help give our residents a fair map that accurately reflects our population, especially our growing Latino population," Cross said in a prepared statement.
The lawsuit also claims the map violates the First Amendment because it negatively affects the voting power of Republicans. Furthermore, the suit alleges the map is in violation of the Illinois Constitution's compactness requirement because it's less compact than the alternatives put forth.
If the lawsuit is successful, the General Assembly may have to redraw the district boundaries of all or part of the state. The court may also direct a special master – an authority appointed by a judge to ensure judicial orders are followed - or even a Legislative Redistricting Commission to draw the boundaries
Rep. Tom Cross, R-84th, and Sen. Christine Radongo, R-94th, filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Elections in the Northern District of Illinois today in an effort to invalidate the 2011 General Assembly redistricting map.
Cross said the map violates the Federal Voting Rights Act because African-Americans and Latinos have not had a "fair opportunity to participate in the political process" in that the map was not made public with enough time for sufficient review.
"We are optimistic that the court will agree with us and will help give our residents a fair map that accurately reflects our population, especially our growing Latino population," Cross said in a prepared statement.
The lawsuit also claims the map violates the First Amendment because it negatively affects the voting power of Republicans. Furthermore, the suit alleges the map is in violation of the Illinois Constitution's compactness requirement because it's less compact than the alternatives put forth.
If the lawsuit is successful, the General Assembly may have to redraw the district boundaries of all or part of the state. The court may also direct a special master – an authority appointed by a judge to ensure judicial orders are followed - or even a Legislative Redistricting Commission to draw the boundaries
