No voice for citizens in remap process

Much has been written in the press about redistricting this past year, and after the new maps are passed, little will be written about the process until the next redistricting cycle 10 years from now. Among all the ink, the same themes emerged over and over; Namely, how can we trust politicians to make maps that are responsive to citizen concerns, rather than solely to the politicians’ concerns, when there is little accountability in the process?

Citizens demanded accountability, anyway, and the politicians gave us public hearings and opportunities to comment on proposed maps before their votes. But the citizens were not impressed: These were not meaningful opportunities for participation, as there were no guarantees that the citizenry’s comments and concerns would be incorporated in the final maps.

In DuPage County, it meant that virtually no one showed up at the countywide hearings to give feedback on proposed maps. Cries of political gerrymandering in efforts to create less competitive elections in our county’s districts had people shaking their heads and feeling disempowered. Without an open process, or without a narrative justification for the shifting of district boundaries in one direction instead of another, our residents are left scratching their heads wondering just what conversation ensued behind closed doors in the remap process.

The mostly closed-door process gives residents little confidence that their concerns were included in the remap process.

One thing is certain: The same themes will be inked again next redistricting cycle if in the interim the citizenry do not demand reform of the process so that the next remap is responsive to citizen concerns.

Maryam Judar

Community lawyer, Citizen Advocacy Center

Elmhurst