High court should uphold amendment vote

Over 560,000 Illinois voters a petition for Independent Maps this year. I know, I collected quite a few of them.

If successful, this initiative would allow you in November to vote for or against taking redistricting out of the hands of politicians and entrusting this most important duty to an independent commission.

Those in power are fighting like crazy to keep this initiative off the ballot. No wonder, since it would end their chance to gerrymander.

As Matt Murphy has put it, elected officials in Illinois choose their voters rather than voters choosing their elected officials. Currently, the party in power draws legislative districts every 10 years in a manner that makes it almost impossible to vote someone out of office.

This initiative has been endorsed by almost every newspaper in Illinois and by a broad spectrum of organizations. And, may I add, enthusiastically signed by you, my neighbors.

Now, as in 2014, a judge struck it down in spite of praising it for being so well-written. She used such a narrow ruling that it ensures that no citizen initiative could ever pass muster.

Unlike two years ago, the Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to review this case and has the chance to restore the democratic rights of Illinois citizens. I encourage the Daily Herald and every citizen interested in a fair democratic process to urge the Illinois Supreme Court to allow our citizenry the right to put an initiative on the ballot.

And I urge all of you voting in November the chance to take back power from the Springfield politicians.

Alan Heigert

Mundelein