Daily Herald opinion: Another setback for fairness: Court’s rebuff of GOP redistricting case reminds voters to ‘take up the baton’

It was disappointing but not surprising when the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week that Republican lawmakers waited too long before filing a challenge to legislative districts approved by the Democratic-contolled General Assembly in 2021. But there is room for hope, despite — and perhaps because of — the ruling.

In their appeal to the court, Republicans argued that they needed to let several elections pass in order to demonstrate the partisan impact of the legislative boundaries the Democrats drew. Justices were not persuaded, stating in their formal opinion that the plaintiffs “could have brought this argument years ago” and maps redrawn halfway to the 2030 census would be based on data that is now “stale.”

That reasoning is hard to protest, even discounting the Democratic majority on the court and even considering the public’s profound desire for a more equitable system of defining the boundaries of legislative districts. But a Peoria Republican offered an option that ought to be pursued with sincere vigor.

Ryan Spain called for another petition drive to force a ballot referendum on the issue. As GOP leaders said they would continue to seek other legal options, Spain urged more grass roots involvement and a resumption of efforts to force lawmakers to adhere to the public’s clear desire for a means of creative legislative maps that do not ensure the dominance of any one party.

“It’s up now to the voters to take this baton and run with it,” Spain told reporters, as reported by Capitol News Illinois. “We need to have voters initiate the redistricting reforms that were cut down.”

That, of course, is easier said than done. Good-government groups like CHANGE Illinois, the League of Women Voters, the Better Government Association and more worked for a decade to get a Fair Maps Amendment on the ballot before the 2020 census, but were repeatedly thwarted by an entrenched Democratic political leadership unwilling to cede its powerful advantage. When the last of numerous court cases failed to open the door for a ballot initiative without legislative approval, the struggle appeared stymied. But it was in fact only delayed.

Many groups continue to work toward establishing an independent system for creating political boundaries every 10 years. Even this year, CHANGE Illinois pushed a non-binding referendum on several township ballots throughout the state asking for public input on the issue. Not surprisingly, given the broad and deep backing shown in poll after poll during the previous battle, the measure drew overwhelming support wherever the measure was on the ballot.

“In a show of unity, 70% of Rock Island voters, 69% of Addison voters, 78% of Palos voters, 75% of Homer voters, and 79% of Lemont voters voiced their support for Fair Maps,” CHANGE reported on its website following the April 1 election. “This echoes the sentiments of 81% of voters in Oak Park Township, 74% in Proviso Township, and 74% in Peoria Township, all of whom supported Fair Maps in recent elections.”

CHANGE promises to continue to get the question on more ballots in 2026, and although advisory referendums hold little more influence than subjective public polls, it is at least a signal that the movement continues.

“The momentum for Fair Maps is growing in Illinois, and (we) know that this is just the beginning,” writes DuShaun Branch, the group’s community organizing director.

Even many Democrats support the Fair Maps concept, some willing to stand up to their leadership in the interest of voters, others contending that Illinois should not stoop to fairness until the large number of Republican-gerrymandered states also get on board.

But waiting for others to demonstrate integrity before showing it oneself is an affront to the term. Illinois must not wait. The courts provided yet another setback with last week’s ruling, albeit in a case with little strength and limited promise. But the ruling is a reminder of the need for action, the importance of persistence and the knowledge that the goal is still alive.

Let’s keep the momentum going with hopes that by 2030, we can initiate a system less likely to ensure continuation of one-party rule in Illinois for the next 10 years.