Citizens must step up now to force reform

Many of us are willing to spend the hour it takes to get to the polls and vote during an election season. Are you willing to give an hour of your time for a once-in-10-years chance to reform Illinois' corrupt political culture?

Illinois residents have a unique chance in the next six weeks to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing us: Our lack of fair and competitive elections. The solution to this problem is the Illinois Fair Map Amendment. But getting it before the voters will require some heavy lifting by the citizenry.

Here is the problem in a nutshell.

Currently, Illinois' political leaders have the job of redrawing the legislative districts every 10 years. If they can't agree (which is usually the case) they draw a slip of paper from a replica of Lincoln's hat to see which political party will call the shots.

That party is then free to shape "safe" districts that maximize their chances of winning elections.

The result has been the current set of gerrymandered districts that are a far cry from the "compact and contiguous" boundaries called for in the state's constitution. Even worse has been the impact on elections. In general elections since the last map was drawn incumbents have prevailed an astounding 98 percent of the time. And in 45 percent of all elections there isn't even a challenger.

Last year, the Illinois Reform Commission headed by Patrick Collins proposed a more fair and transparent way to create legislative districts. This proposal, now called the Fair Map Amendment, would put responsibility for drawing districts in the hands of an independent commission. This commission - and not party bosses - would use neutral criteria to draw the maps.

You can learn more about the details of the proposal at www.ilfairmap.com. And while there, you can see the broad coalition that is supporting Fair Map, including the League of Women Voters, the Farm Bureau and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Getting the redistricting process changed will require an amendment to the Illinois Constitution. Here is where we citizens come in.

If we can gather 500,000 signatures between now and May 1st, the Fair Map Amendment can be placed on the November ballot. If it passes, the 2012 elections will be conducted with fairly-drawn districts, not the crazy quilt districts we have today.

So, Illinois citizens, here's your challenge.

Go to the Fair Map Amendment Web site and download some petitions.

You'll need to take some care to gather signatures correctly and to get the petition notarized.

Lake County United's member organizations have committed to gather 10,000 signatures over the next six weeks.

Can you take an hour to sign up your family members, neighbors, and co-workers?

You can contact the League of Women Voters or Lake County United if you have questions. But we can't let this hour for reform pass us up.

• Rev. Jamison Geiger is senior pastor of Libertyville United Methodist Church and on the Steering Team of Lake County United, a network of 38 churches, synagogues, mosques and nonprofits in Lake County, www.lakecountyunited.org.