Quinn defends redistricting as ‘most open’ process

Gov. Pat Quinn is defending new Illinois congressional and legislative maps, saying they were drawn after “the most open process Illinois has ever had.”

His comments Tuesday came after the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit claiming the maps are unconstitutional because they assign voters to districts based on their political views and voting histories.

New maps are required every 10 years after the census reveals population shifts. Democrats got to draw them this time because they control the Illinois legislature and governor’s office.

The maps squeeze Republican representatives into districts where they must run against other incumbents in 2012 and created just one district where Latinos represent the majority, although Illinois’ Hispanic population is 32.5 percent

Quinn said the public had ample opportunity to participate in the process.