Illinois redistricting reform faces political hurdle; lawmakers asked to
surrender power
[November 12, 2026]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker pushing to change how
legislative districts are drawn faces a political hurdle: persuading
lawmakers who benefit from the current system to give up some control
over the process.
State Rep. Travis Weaver, R-Edwards, is seeking a constitutional
amendment that would establish new rules for redistricting, arguing the
current maps leave some voters underrepresented.
The proposal comes after Democrats expanded their supermajorities in
both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly in the Nov. 3 election.
Before the Nov. 3 election, Democrats held a 78-40 majority in the
Illinois House and a 40-19 majority in the Senate. Preliminary results
following the election show Democrats expanding those advantages to
82-32 in the House and 45-13 in the Senate, with several races still
unresolved. Weaver explained the results leave Republicans with even
less representation in the General Assembly and raise questions about
whether the Democratic supermajorities would support changes that could
limit their party’s influence over the redistricting process.
“In a typical election, Illinois is a 45 to 55 Democrat state,” Weaver
told The Center Square. “So it just highlights that voters and
constituents in the state of Illinois are extremely disenfranchised.”
Weaver criticized the shape of Illinois' legislative districts, saying
boundaries often divide neighborhoods and counties.
“They jig and they jag and they run and they don't keep neighborhoods
together. They don't keep counties together,” Weaver said.
In April, House Democrats advanced a separate constitutional amendment,
HJRCA 28, that would prioritize racial representation requirements when
drawing legislative districts.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, defended the proposal
by pointing to concerns that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling could weaken
protections for minority voters under the federal Voting Rights Act,
according to news reports.
Republicans challenged that argument. Republican lawmakers opposing
HJRCA 28 argued that its provisions could give Democrats additional
flexibility when drawing district boundaries rather than address
partisan gerrymandering.
Weaver referenced a lawsuit Republicans brought challenging
Democratic-drawn legislative maps. Weaver said Republicans used data to
argue that voters were moved out of competitive districts and
concentrated into districts that were already heavily Republican or
Democratic.
Weaver said the current political makeup of the General Assembly can
affect how individual lawmakers approach legislation. He pointed to
moderate Democrats who might want to oppose certain tax increases but
could feel their votes would not change the outcome because their party
has enough votes to pass legislation without them.
“The more that we can narrow that gap, the more that we're going to
reflect the makeup of the people of Illinois,” Weaver said.
But changing the process would require support from lawmakers in the
party that currently holds the majority.
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Asked why Democrats would voluntarily give up control over
redistricting, Weaver said some members of the party have also
expressed frustration with their own district boundaries.
He described a recent conversation with a Democratic member of
Congress who complained that her district was not compact and
extended into multiple neighborhoods.
“I think it's definitely an instance where we would need to see
people put what is right ahead of what is expedient,” Weaver said.
“I know it's a lot to ask in politics, but that's the ask that I
have on the table.”
Weaver said he has legislation filed that would put a constitutional
amendment before voters. He argues the rules should be placed in the
state constitution so future lawmakers cannot easily change them.
“Once you get a constitutional amendment, it's locked in,” Weaver
said.
Illinois public policy and government reform advocate Brian Costin
says reforming the state’s redistricting process will require more
than appeals to fairness, arguing lawmakers must face enough public
pressure to voluntarily surrender their mapmaking authority.
Costin says Republicans should build unified support for reviving
HJRCA 41, secure public pledges from candidates to support
independent maps regardless of which party benefits, and publish
model legislative maps for voters to compare.
He argues a constitutional amendment would provide lasting
protections but says separating state legislative redistricting
reform from the national battle over congressional maps could create
an opportunity for bipartisan support.
Costin says both parties should be held accountable by committing to
the same redistricting rules before either has the power to draw
district boundaries.
Under Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a proposed amendment
must receive approval from three-fifths of the members elected to
both the House and Senate before going to voters. Voters must then
approve it by either three-fifths of those voting on the question or
a majority of all ballots cast in the election.
Weaver said his proposal would emphasize transparency, including
allowing the public to see the software used to draw maps and the
instructions guiding that software.
Critics of independent redistricting commissions argue that
transferring mapmaking authority does not necessarily eliminate
political influence and could create accountability concerns.
For voters who believe their legislative districts are predetermined
and their votes have little impact, Weaver said their concerns are
justified.
“I'd say they're spot on,” Weaver said. “That's what we're working
to change.”
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