Voters must demand election reform

The recent decision by the Illinois Supreme Court to disqualify a ballot referendum to allow citizens to vote up or down a proposal for legislative redistricting demonstrates how broken our state's democratic processes are.

The entrenched political system scored another victory over the citizens it is supposed to serve. The broken and flawed status quo rewards party loyalty with patronage, prestige, and power, regardless of the outcome for taxpayers.

Fair elections are the basic building block of democracy. The current process allows political party leaders to pick their voters, instead of voters selecting their elected officials. This results in deep-rooted political brinkmanship that favors electoral victories over good governance.

This isn't an esoteric commentary. It's based on experience operating in a nonpartisan capacity as Mayor of Naperville. Through referendums, the city overwhelmingly decided to retain the at-large style of elections, rather than wanting parochial districts to be created.

The city council votes for what we believe is in the best interest of our community as a whole. That doesn't mean every vote is unanimous or popular, but your local municipal officials are held accountable by every citizen we serve. There aren't legislative districts or voter rolls to manipulate. Confidence in our democratic institutions like Congress and the Illinois General Assembly is creeping to historically low levels. This is harmful to our society and a danger to our shared prosperity.

Regardless of your partisan orientation, it should be offensive that already before a vote is cast in the November election, roughly two-thirds of the Illinois General Assembly has been re-elected. The gerrymandered process has resulted in more uncontested elections than contests where voters have a choice between two candidates. That is not democracy, it is lunacy.

Democrats and Republicans are culpable and have exploited the redistricting system to their benefit. But together, everyday voters, Democrats and Republicans, must band together to demand a vote on a better way.

Fair elections delivered by redistricting reform will improve the governance of our state. Rather than talk past each other and speak to partisan primary audiences, the General Assembly will have to work together to solve the problems confronting our state.

It is abundantly clear that the voter-led referendum process is rigged against citizens. But that isn't the only way to allow voters to have their say. The General Assembly can, and must, vote to put a redistricting proposal before the voters. The political system is controlling the governed, rather than citizens controlling our government. Citizens must demand change to break the stranglehold politics have placed around Illinois' economy, fiscal health and quality of life.

Ask every official seeking to represent you in Springfield to publicly pledge their support a redistricting amendment that creates honest and fair elections. As citizens, we have a voice, now we must exercise it to be given our chance to vote on redistricting reform.

Steve Chirico is mayor of Naperville.