Redistricting in Illinois after the 2020 census

Redistricting after the 2020 census
The 2020 cycle
Congressional apportionment
Redistricting before 2024 elections
Redistricting committees
Deadlines
Lawsuits
Timeline of redistricting maps
2022 House elections with multiple incumbents
New U.S.House districts created after apportionment
Congressional maps
State legislative maps
General information
State-by-state redistricting procedures
United States census, 2020
Majority-minority districts
Gerrymandering
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Redistricting is the process of enacting new district boundaries for elected offices, particularly for offices in the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures. This article chronicles the 2020 redistricting cycle in Illinois.

Illinois enacted a congressional map on November 24, 2021, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the proposal into law.^[1] The Illinois State Senate voted 41-18 in favor of the map on October 28, 2021, followed by the Illinois House of Representatives voting 71-43 in favor on October 29, 2021.^[2]

The Illinois State Legislature approved new state legislative maps in a special session on August 31, 2021. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the new maps into law on September 24, 2021.^[3] These maps were revised versions of maps enacted on June 4, 2021, that the legislature based on non-census population estimates. Following the release of census data in August, the legislature reconvened to develop and approve a revised map. These maps were later subject to a federal lawsuit that was decided on December 30, 2021, with the court upholding the maps enacted on September 24, 2021.^[4] Illinois House minority leader Tony McCombie (R) and five voters filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2025, alleging that the state House map enacted in 2021 was drawn unconstitutionally in Democrats' favor. ^[5] Learn more here.

For more information about the enactment of new maps in Illinois, click here.

Illinois' 17 United States representatives and 177 state legislators are all elected from political divisions called districts. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. Federal law stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

See the sections below for further information on the following topics:

1. Summary: This section provides summary information about the drafting and enacting processes.
2. Enactment: This section provides information about the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
3. Drafting process: This section details the drafting process for new congressional and state legislative district maps.
4. Apportionment and release of census data: This section details the 2020 apportionment process, including data from the United States Census Bureau.
5. Court challenges: This section details court challenges to the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
6. Background: This section summarizes federal and state-based requirements for redistricting at both the congressional and state legislative levels. A summary of the 2010 redistricting cycle in Illinois is also provided.

Summary

This section lists major events in the post-2020 census redistricting cycle in reverse chronological order. Major events include the release of apportionment data, the release of census population data, the introduction of formal map proposals, the enactment of new maps, and noteworthy court challenges. Click the dates below for additional information.

• Dec. 30, 2021: A three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled against plaintiffs challenging the enacted state legislative maps and upheld the maps signed into law on Sept. 24, 2021.
• Nov. 24, 2021: Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the new congressional map plan into law.
• Oct. 29, 2021: The Illinois House of Representatives voted 71-43 in favor of the congressional map, sending it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) for final approval.
• Oct. 28, 2021: State legislative Democrats released a fourth congressional map plan. The Illinois State Senate voted to approve the proposal 41-18.
• Oct. 27, 2021: State legislative Democrats released a third congressional map plan.
• Oct. 23, 2021: State legislative Democrats released a revised congressional map plan.
• Oct. 19, 2021: A three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ordered plaintiffs and defendants in a redistricting lawsuit to submit revisions to the court of the state legislative district maps enacted in September for further review.^[6]
• Oct. 15, 2021: State legislative Democrats released their first proposed congressional map plan.
• Sept. 24, 2021: Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the adjusted state legislative district maps into law.
• Sept. 16, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2020 census in an easier-to-use format to state redistricting authorities and the public.
• Aug. 31, 2021: Illinois lawmakers held a special session and approved the adjusted legislative maps, sending them on to Gov. Pritzker (D) for his signature.
• Aug. 30, 2021: State lawmakers in Illinois released their adjusted proposed maps for the Illinois State Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives.
• Aug. 12, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered redistricting data to states in a legacy format.
• July 14, 2021: Two redistricting lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division were consolidated and assigned to a three-judge panel for consideration.
• June 10, 2021: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, challenging the legislative maps signed into law by Governor Pritzker (D) on June 4, 2021.
• June 9, 2021: Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, challenging the legislative maps signed into law by Governor Pritzker (D) on June 4, 2021.
• June 4, 2021: Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the revised maps for the Illinois State Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Illinois Supreme Court.
• May 28, 2021: Illinois lawmakers approved revised maps for the Illinois State Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Illinois Supreme Court, sending them on to Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) for his signature.
• May 21, 2021: State lawmakers in Illinois released their proposed maps for the Illinois State Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives, becoming the second state in the 2020 redistricting cycle to produce draft legislative maps. Lawmakers also released proposed maps for state supreme court districts, which were last redrawn in 1964.
• April 26, 2021: The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts. Illinois was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This represented a net loss of one seat as compared to apportionment after the 2010 census.

Enactment

Enacted congressional district maps

See also: Congressional district maps implemented after the 2020 census

Illinois enacted a congressional map on November 24, 2021, after Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the proposal into law.^[1] The Illinois State Senate voted 41-18 in favor of the map on October 28, 2021, followed by the Illinois House of Representatives voting 71-43 in favor on October 29, 2021.^[7]

This map took effect for Illinois' 2022 congressional elections.

Below are the congressional maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Reactions

The Associated Press' Sara Burnett wrote, "The map ... was intended to eliminate two Republican-held districts and make elections easier for Democratic candidates, even with the state losing one congressional seat due to population loss."^[1] Burnett also said the map "added a second predominantly Latino district, after census data showed Illinois’ Latino population grew over the past decade. They also maintained three predominantly Black districts."^[8]

State Sen. Don Harmon (D), president of the Senate, said the map "reflects the diversity of the state of Illinois," and combined communities "that shared political philosophies and policy objectives."^[8] State Sen. Don DeWitte (R) said, "This will be the most gerrymandered map in the country, and this process will be used as the poster child for why politicians should never be allowed to draw their own maps."^[9]

According to The Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson, the approved proposal drew the following pairs of incumbents into the same district:^[10]

• U.S. Reps. Marie Newman (D) and Jesus Garcia (D)
• U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R) and Darin LaHood (R)
• U.S. Reps. Mary Miller (R) and Mike Bost (R)

2020 presidential results

The table below details the results of the 2020 presidential election in each district at the time of the 2022 election and its political predecessor district.^[11] This data was compiled by Daily Kos Elections.^[12]

2020 presidential results by Congressional district, Illinois
District	2022 district	Political predecessor district
Joe Biden	Donald Trump	Joe Biden	Donald Trump
Illinois' 1st	70.5%	28.1%	73.9%	24.7%
Illinois' 2nd	69.3%	29.3%	77.5%	21.2%
Illinois' 3rd	69.7%	28.3%	55.5%	42.9%
Illinois' 4th	72.3%	25.9%	80.7%	17.3%
Illinois' 5th	68.9%	29.3%	72.1%	26.0%
Illinois' 6th	54.5%	43.6%	55.3%	42.6%
Illinois' 7th	85.6%	12.8%	86.3%	12.1%
Illinois' 8th	56.8%	41.4%	59.2%	39.0%
Illinois' 9th	69.9%	28.4%	71.0%	27.4%
Illinois' 10th	62.0%	36.1%	64.2%	34.0%
Illinois' 11th	56.6%	41.3%	61.9%	36.2%
Illinois' 12th	27.7%	70.5%	41.9%	56.1%
Illinois' 13th	54.4%	43.2%	47.0%	50.5%
Illinois' 14th	54.7%	43.3%	50.2%	47.8%
Illinois' 15th	29.6%	68.3%	25.9%	72.2%
Illinois' 16th	38.1%	59.6%	36.8%	60.9%
Illinois' 17th	52.7%	44.9%	48.1%	49.7%

Enacted state legislative district maps

See also: State legislative district maps implemented after the 2020 census

The Illinois State Legislature approved new state legislative maps in a special session on August 31, 2021. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed the new maps into law on September 24, 2021.^[3] These maps were revised versions of maps enacted on June 4, 2021, that the legislature based on non-census population estimates. Following the release of census data in August, the legislature reconvened to develop and approve a revised map. These maps were later subject to a federal lawsuit that was decided on December 30, 2021, with the court upholding the maps enacted on September 24, 2021.^[13] Illinois House minority leader Tony McCombie (R) and five voters filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2025, alleging that the state House map enacted in 2021 was drawn unconstitutionally in Democrats' favor. ^[14] Learn more here.

State Senate map

Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

State House map

Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

Reactions

In a press release, Pritzker said, "These legislative maps align with the landmark Voting Rights Act and will help ensure Illinois' diversity is reflected in the halls of government."^[15] House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R) called the maps partisan, saying, "Once again, Gov. Pritzker has proven that he governs only for the Democratic political insiders and not for the people of Illinois."^[15]

Previously enacted maps

Click on the header below to view information about the state legislative maps enacted on June 4, 2021.

Enacted state supreme court district maps

Illinois Appellate Court Districts

New state supreme court district maps were signed into law by Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) on June 4, 2021. The Illinois Supreme Court lifted a pause order on this map on Jan. 1, 2022, resulting in its full implementation. This was the first time the state updated its judicial districts map since they were first enacted in 1964.^[19]

An image of the enacted state Supreme Court district map appears on the right. Click here for an interactive viewer of the enacted Supreme Court map.

Drafting process

The Illinois General Assembly is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a redistricting plan. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.^[20]

In the event that both chambers of the state legislature do not approve a legislative redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The majority and minority leaders of each chamber must appoint two members each to the commission (one legislator and one general citizen). Of the eight commission members, no more than four may belong to the same political party. In the event that these eight members cannot approve a plan, the Illinois Supreme Court must select two individuals (from different political parties) as potential tiebreakers. The secretary of state must then appoint one of these individuals to the backup commission to break the tie.^[20]

The Illinois Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "contiguous and reasonably compact." There are no such requirements in place for the state's congressional districts.^[20]

State law also mandates the establishment of state legislative districts "that allow racial or language minority communities to elect--or influence the election of--the candidates of their choice, even if no comparable district would be required by the federal Voting Rights Act."^[20]

Timeline

Congressional redistricting
Illinois did not set a specific redistricting deadline for congressional maps in the 2020 redistricting cycle. The candidate filing deadline for the 2022 election cycle in Illinois was March 14, 2022, an inferred redistricting deadline.^[21] The Illinois Legislature approved new congressional lines on Oct. 29, 2021, which were signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Nov. 24, 2021.^[1]

Legislative redistricting
The legislature's deadline to complete redistricting for the state House and Senate was June 30, 2021. In Illinois, if the legislature fails to meet its deadline, an eight-person commission is formed with an ultimate deadline of Oct. 5, 2021.^[21] The Illinois Legislature passed its first state legislative maps on May 28, 2021, which were signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on June 4. These maps were created using preliminary data rather than the official 2020 census data, which was not released until August 2021. On Aug. 31, legislators approved a revised map using the census data. Pritzker signed these maps into law on Sept. 24, 2021.

Committees and/or commissions involved in the process

In Illinois, each chamber of the state legislature has its own redistricting committee. As of May 25, 2021, these committees had the following members:^[22][23]

Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee membership, 2020 cycle Name Partisan affiliation Chair: Omar Aquino Democratic Vice-Chair: Elgie R. Sims, Jr. Democratic Minority Spokesperson : Jason Barickman Republican Scott M. Bennett Democratic Cristina Castro Democratic Bill Cunningham Democratic Mattie Hunter Democratic Emil Jones Democratic Laura Murphy Democratic Steve McClure Republican Dan McConchie Republican Jason Plummer Republican

Illinois House Redistricting Committee membership, 2020 cycle Name Partisan affiliation Chair: Elizabeth Hernandez Democratic Vice-Chair: Curtis Tarver II Democratic Minority Spokesperson : Tim Butler Republican Avery Bourne Republican Kelly M. Burke Democratic Jehan Gordon-Booth Democratic Jay Hoffman Democratic Theresa Mah Democratic Dave Severin Republican Ryan Spain Republican

Drafts and proposals

Congressional district maps

On October 28, state legislative Democrats released their fourth proposed congressional district map.^[10] On Oct. 29, the Illinois State Legislature voted to send this proposal to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) for final approval. ^[10]

Map images

An image of the October 28 proposal is embedded below and can be viewed here.

Reactions

State Sen. Don Harmon (D), president of the Senate, said the map "reflects the diversity of the state of Illinois," and combined communities "that shared political philosophies and policy objectives."^[8]

State Sen. Don DeWitte (R) said, "This will be the most gerrymandered map in the country, and this process will be used as the poster child for why politicians should never be allowed to draw their own maps."^[24]

According to The Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson, the approved proposal drew the following pairs of incumbents into the same district:^[10]

• U.S. Reps. Marie Newman (D) and Jesus Garcia (D)
• U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R) and Darin LaHood (R)
• U.S. Reps. Mary Miller (R) and Mike Bost (R)

Following the map's approval by the Illinois State Legislature, Kinzinger announced he would not seek re-election in 2022. Additionally, Newman announced that she would seek re-election not against Garcia, but rather against U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D) whose new district, under the proposal, would consist of many areas represented by Newman before redistricting.^[8]

The Associated Press' Sara Burnett also observed:

“

Democrats added a second predominantly Latino district, after census data showed Illinois’ Latino population grew over the past decade. They also maintained three predominantly Black districts.[8][25]

”

Legislative approval

On Oct. 28, the Illinois State Senate voted 41-18 in favor of the map. On Oct. 29, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 71-43 in favor, sending it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) for final approval.^[10]

Previous proposals

Click on the header below to view information regarding the state legislative maps proposed by the Illinois State Legislature on Oct. 15, 2021, and revised maps released on Oct. 23 and 27.

Legislative district maps

Lawmakers in Illinois approved two sets of maps. The first set, released on May 21, 2021, was based on American Community Survey data. This made Illinois the second state in the 2020 redistricting cycle to produce draft maps.^[31] Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed these maps into law on June 4, 2021. On August 30, 2021, lawmakers released a revised set of maps for the Illinois State Senate and Illinois House of Representatives adjusted to account for the 2020 census data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on August 12, 2021, which were legislatively approved on August 31.^[32] Pritzker signed the revised maps into law on September 24, 2021.^[33] On Oct. 19, a three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ordered plaintiffs and defendants in a redistricting lawsuit to submit revisions to the September maps to the court for further review.^[6] Learn more here.

Map images

Images of the August set of proposed statewide maps are embedded below.

Illinois State Senate – proposed map (Aug. 31, 2021)

• Click here for an interactive view of the proposed Senate maps.

Illinois House of Representatives – proposed map (Aug. 31, 2021)

• Click here for an interactive view of the proposed House maps.

Reactions

Chairwoman of the Illinois House Redistricting Commission, Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D), upon the release of the adjusted maps said that they, “better reflect the data we recently received from the U.S. Census and ensure communities are represented by the people of their choice.”^[34]

State Rep. Avery Bourne (R) criticized the redistricting process saying, “This is the opposite of transparent. It was a sham to ask the public to be in those hearings if you’re not even going to take into consideration their suggestions.”^[35]

Legislative approval

After releasing the proposed maps on August 30, 2021, lawmakers held a special session on August 31, 2021, for the purpose of voting on the maps. Lawmakers approved the adjusted maps on August 31, 2021. The House voted 73-43 in favor of the maps, and the Senate voted 40-17 in favor of the maps.^[36][37]

Previous proposals

Click on the header below to view information regarding the state legislative maps proposed and approved by the Illinois State Legislature in May 2021.

State supreme court districts

On May 21, 2021, state lawmakers released proposed maps for state supreme court districts, which were last redrawn in 1964. Illinois is divided into five supreme court districts. Cook County (home to Chicago) forms a single district, but it is allocated three seats on the seven-member court. Downstate Illinois is divided into four districts, each with one seat on the court.^[39]

The state constitution allows state lawmakers to redraw supreme court districts at any time. However, according to The Chicago Tribune, "lawmakers have traditionally used boundaries for the circuit, appellate and Supreme Court laid out in a 1964 overhaul of the state's court system."^[39]

Map images

An image of the proposed supreme court district map is embedded below.

• Click here for an interactive viewer of the proposed House supreme court district map.

Illinois Supreme Court – proposed map (May 25, 2021)

Reactions

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez (D), chair of the House Redistricting Committee, said it was necessary to redraw the court's district maps to ensure more equal populations between districts: "This map is about equal representation in the state’s most important court. As we strive for all to be equal before the law, we must ensure we all have an equal voice in choosing those who uphold it."^[39]

The state Republican Party opposed the redrawn the state supreme court map: "This is a brazen abuse of our judicial system and nothing more than political gamesmanship with what should be an independent court, free of corrupt influence."^[40]

Legislative approval

On May 28, 2021, Illinois lawmakers approved a revised state supreme court district map. The House voted 71-45 in favor of the maps, with all Democrats present voting 'yea' and all Republicans present voting 'nay.' The Senate voted 40-18 in favor of the maps, also with all Democrats present voting 'yea' and all Republicans present voting 'nay.'^[41]

Apportionment and release of census data

Apportionment is the process by which representation in a legislative body is distributed among its constituents. The number of seats in the United States House of Representatives is fixed at 435. The United States Constitution dictates that districts be redrawn every 10 years to ensure equal populations between districts. Every ten years, upon completion of the United States census, reapportionment occurs.^[42]

Apportionment following the 2020 census

The U.S. Census Bureau delivered apportionment counts on April 26, 2021. Illinois was apportioned 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This represented a net loss of one seat as compared to apportionment after the 2010 census.^[43]

See the table below for additional details.

2020 and 2010 census information for Illinois
State	2010 census	2020 census	2010-2020
Population	U.S. House seats	Population	U.S. House seats	Raw change in population	Percentage change in population	Change in U.S. House seats
Illinois	12,864,380	18	12,822,739	17	-41,641	-0.32%	-1

Redistricting data from the Census Bureau

On February 12, 2021, the Census Bureau announced that it would deliver redistricting data to the states by September 30, 2021. On March 15, 2021, the Census Bureau released a statement indicating it would make redistricting data available to the states in a legacy format in mid-to-late August 2021. A legacy format presents the data in raw form, without data tables and other access tools. On May 25, 2021, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) announced that the state had reached a settlement agreement with the Census Bureau in its lawsuit over the Census Bureau's timetable for delivering redistricting data. Under the terms of the settlement, the Census Bureau agreed to deliver redistricting data, in a legacy format, by August 16, 2021.^{[44][45][46][47]} The Census Bureau released the 2020 redistricting data in a legacy format on August 12, 2021, and in an easier-to-use format at data.census.gov on September 16, 2021.^[48][49]

Court challenges

If you are aware of any relevant lawsuits that are not listed here, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

McCombie v. Illinois State Board of Elections

Illinois House minority leader Tony McCombie (R) and five voters filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2025, alleging that the state House map enacted in 2021 was drawn unconstitutionally in Democrats' favor. ^[50]

The plaintiffs wrote in the lawsuit:

“

The districts of the Illinois State House of Representatives (the “Enacted Plan”) are the byproduct of extreme partisan gerrymandering. They are drawn by the political party in control and are intended to entrench the Democratic Party in power. The districts are also meant to prevent voters affiliated with the minority party from electing candidates of their choice. In other words, the general election outcomes are rigged.[51][25]

”

Contreras et. al. v. Illinois State Board of Elections

The Illinois State Legislature enacted two sets of state legislative maps during the 2020 redistricting cycle:

• The first, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed into law on June 4, 2021, redrew state House and Senate lines using data from the American Community Survey (ACS), a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau but distinct from the decennial census. According to state constitutional requirements, the legislature had a June 30 deadline to complete its maps. If the legislature had missed that deadline, the map-making process would have transferred to a commission.^[6]
• The second, which Gov. Pritzker signed into law on Sept. 24, 2021, revised the June maps. Data from the 2020 census was officially released in August 2021, prompting legislators to reconvene in a special session and adopt revised maps based on the official census data. The June maps were never repealed.^[3]

On Oct. 19, 2021, a three-judge panel in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois declared that the state legislative maps enacted on June 4, 2021, were unconstitutional based on violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.^[6] The Oct. 19 ruling did not declare either the constitutionality or unconstitutionality of the maps enacted in September.^[52]

On Dec. 30, 2021, the panel ruled against the plaintiffs and upheld the state legislative maps enacted on Sept. 24, 2021.^[53]

To read the court's final opinion, click here.

Case background

Following the enactment of the June maps, plaintiffs filed two lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division: Illinois House and Senate Republican leaders Jim Durkin and Dan McConchie on June 9, 2021, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) on June 10, 2021.^[54][55][56]

The two lawsuits were consolidated in a single case and assigned to a three-judge panel on July 14, 2021.^[57][58][59] Robert Dow Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois, Jon E. DeGuilio of the Northern District of Indiana, and Michael B. Brennan of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals were assigned to the case.^[57]

In their initial complaints, both sets of plaintiffs alleged that the June maps were malapportioned since they were based on ACS data rather than the data from the official 2020 census.^[55][60][61]

In a July 16 motion, the Illinois State Board of Elections and the offices of House Speaker Welch (D) and Senate President Harmon (D) said that neither the Illinois constitution nor the U.S. constitution required census data to be used in redistricting. They also said that until the 2020 census data was released, the court had no way to measure the validity of the plaintiffs' equal protection arguments.^[58]

The U.S. Census Bureau released official 2020 census data in August 2021 which prompted the state legislature to reconvene for a special session to revise the June maps based on census data. Those maps were sent to Gov. Pritzker who signed them into law on Sept. 24, 2021.^[3]

On Oct. 1, 2021, both sets of plaintiffs filed amended complaints saying the September maps violated the U.S. Constitution, as alleged in the initial complaints, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Both groups of plaintiffs said that Illinois' Latino population grew over the preceding decade, but the September maps reduced the number of Latino opportunity districts, where Latinos make up more than 50% of the population.^[62]

On Oct. 15, the East St. Louis Branch NAACP, among others, filed a separate lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois requesting the court prevent the state from enforcing the state legislative maps approved and enacted in September. Plaintiffs alleged that the September plan constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander by cracking predominantly Black communities in East St. Louis into three separate districts: House Districts 112, 113, and 114.^[63] The case was reassigned to the three-judge panel overseeing the McConchie and Contreras cases on Oct. 20.^[64]

For additional information about the individual lawsuits, including the remedies sought, click "Show more" below.

Illinois African Americans for Equitable Redistricting complaint

On Oct. 11, the Illinois African Americans for Equitable Redistricting (IAAFER) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the state legislative maps approved and enacted in September 2021. The Center Square's Kevin Bessler wrote that the group wanted "to ensure that the maps optimize opportunities for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice."^[67] Regarding the September, IAAFER released a statement saying:

“

Black people comprised 14% of Illinois’ population in 2011, and still comprise 14% of Illinois’ population in 2021. However, the number of majority Black districts has been cut by 50%. White people comprised 60% of Illinois’ population in 2011, and 58% of Illinois’ population in 2021. Yet, 69% if the districts drawn in the redistricting plan, are majority White. In fact, two new majority White representative districts were formed by dismantling a majority Black district in East St. Louis, Illinois.[51][25]

”

Background

This section includes background information on federal requirements for congressional redistricting, state legislative redistricting, state-based requirements, redistricting methods used in the 50 states, gerrymandering, and recent court decisions.

Federal requirements for congressional redistricting

According to Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, the states and their legislatures have primary authority in determining the "times, places, and manner" of congressional elections. Congress may also pass laws regulating congressional elections.^[68][69]

“	The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.[25]	”
—United States Constitution

Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution stipulates that congressional representatives be apportioned to the states on the basis of population. There are 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives. Each state is allotted a portion of these seats based on the size of its population relative to the other states. Consequently, a state may gain seats in the House if its population grows or lose seats if its population decreases, relative to populations in other states. In 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Wesberry v. Sanders that the populations of House districts must be equal "as nearly as practicable."^[70][71][72]

The equal population requirement for congressional districts is strict. According to All About Redistricting, "Any district with more or fewer people than the average (also known as the 'ideal' population), must be specifically justified by a consistent state policy. And even consistent policies that cause a 1 percent spread from largest to smallest district will likely be unconstitutional."^[72]

Federal requirements for state legislative redistricting

The United States Constitution is silent on the issue of state legislative redistricting. In the mid-1960s, the United States Supreme Court issued a series of rulings in an effort to clarify standards for state legislative redistricting. In Reynolds v. Sims, the court ruled that "the Equal Protection Clause [of the United States Constitution] demands no less than substantially equal state legislative representation for all citizens, of all places as well as of all races." According to All About Redistricting, "it has become accepted that a [redistricting] plan will be constitutionally suspect if the largest and smallest districts [within a state or jurisdiction] are more than 10 percent apart."^[72]

State-based requirements

In addition to the federal criteria noted above, individual states may impose additional requirements on redistricting. Common state-level redistricting criteria are listed below.

1. Contiguity refers to the principle that all areas within a district should be physically adjacent. A total of 49 states require that districts of at least one state legislative chamber be contiguous (Nevada has no such requirement, imposing no requirements on redistricting beyond those enforced at the federal level). A total of 23 states require that congressional districts meet contiguity requirements.^[72][73]
2. Compactness refers to the general principle that the constituents within a district should live as near to one another as practicable. A total of 37 states impose compactness requirements on state legislative districts; 18 states impose similar requirements for congressional districts.^[72][73]
3. A community of interest is defined by FairVote as a "group of people in a geographical area, such as a specific region or neighborhood, who have common political, social or economic interests." A total of 24 states require that the maintenance of communities of interest be considered in the drawing of state legislative districts. A total of 13 states impose similar requirements for congressional districts.^[72][73]
4. A total of 42 states require that state legislative district lines be drawn to account for political boundaries (e.g., the limits of counties, cities, and towns). A total of 19 states require that similar considerations be made in the drawing of congressional districts.^[72][73]

Methods

In general, a state's redistricting authority can be classified as one of the following:^[74]

1. Legislature-dominant: In a legislature-dominant state, the legislature retains the ultimate authority to draft and enact district maps. Maps enacted by the legislature may or may not be subject to gubernatorial veto. Advisory commissions may also be involved in the redistricting process, although the legislature is not bound to adopt an advisory commission's recommendations.
2. Commission: In a commission state, an extra-legislative commission retains the ultimate authority to draft and enact district maps. A non-politician commission is one whose members cannot hold elective office. A politician commission is one whose members can hold elective office.
3. Hybrid: In a hybrid state, the legislature shares redistricting authority with a commission.

Gerrymandering

See also: Gerrymandering

The term gerrymandering refers to the practice of drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituency over another. When used in a rhetorical manner by opponents of a particular district map, the term has a negative connotation but does not necessarily address the legality of a challenged map. The term can also be used in legal documents; in this context, the term describes redistricting practices that violate federal or state laws.^[75][76]

For additional background information about gerrymandering, click "[Show more]" below.

Recent court decisions

See also: Redistricting cases heard by the Supreme Court of the United States

The Supreme Court of the United States has, in recent years, issued several decisions dealing with redistricting policy, including rulings relating to the consideration of race in drawing district maps, the use of total population tallies in apportionment, and the constitutionality of independent redistricting commissions. The rulings in these cases, which originated in a variety of states, impact redistricting processes across the nation.

For additional background information about these cases, click "[Show more]" below.

Trifectas and redistricting

In 34 of the states that conducted legislative elections in 2020, the legislatures themselves played a significant part in the subsequent redistricting process. The winner of eight of 2020's gubernatorial elections had veto authority over state legislative or congressional district plans approved by legislatures. The party that won trifecta control of a state in which redistricting authority rests with the legislature directed the process that produces the maps that will be used for the remainder of the decade. Trifecta shifts in the 2010 election cycle illustrate this point. In 2010, 12 states in which legislatures had authority over redistricting saw shifts in trifecta status. Prior to the 2010 elections, seven of these states were Democratic trifectas; the rest were divided governments. After the 2010 elections, seven of these states became Republican trifectas; the remainder either remained or became divided governments. The table below details these shifts and charts trifecta status heading into the 2020 election cycle.

The 12 legislature-redistricting states that saw trifecta shifts in 2010 – subsequent trifecta status
State	Primary redistricting authority	Pre-2010 trifecta status	Post-2010 trifecta status	Post-2018 trifecta status
Alabama	Legislature	Divided	Republican	Republican
Colorado	Congressional maps: legislature State legislative maps: politician commission	Democratic	Divided	Democratic
Indiana	Legislature	Divided	Republican	Republican
Iowa	Legislature	Democratic	Divided	Republican
Maine	Legislature	Democratic	Republican	Democratic
Michigan	Legislature	Divided	Republican	Divided
New Hampshire	Legislature	Democratic	Divided	Divided
North Carolina	Legislature	Democratic	Divided	Divided
Ohio	Congressional maps: legislature State legislative maps: politician commission	Divided	Republican	Republican
Oregon	Legislature	Democratic	Divided	Democratic
Pennsylvania	Congressional maps: legislature State legislative maps: politician commission	Divided	Republican	Divided
Wisconsin	Legislature	Democratic	Republican	Divided

2010 redistricting cycle

Redistricting in Illinois after the 2010 census

Following the completion of the 2010 United States Census, Illinois lost one congressional seat. At the time of redistricting, Democrats held majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. On May 30, 2011, the Illinois House of Representatives approved a congressional redistricting plan. The Illinois State Senate approved the plan on May 31, 2011, and Governor Pat Quinn (D) signed it into law on June 24, 2011. Legal suits were filed challenging the new congressional district map, but these were all ultimately dismissed.^{[20][101][102]}

The state legislative redistricting plan was passed by the legislature on May 27, 2011. Quinn signed the map into law on June 3, 2011. As with the congressional map, lawsuits were filed challenging the new state legislative districts. These suits were ultimately dismissed.^[20]

See also

• Redistricting in Illinois after the 2010 census
• Redistricting in Illinois
• State-by-state redistricting procedures
• Majority-minority districts

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• All About Redistricting
• Dave's Redistricting
• FiveThirtyEight, "What Redistricting Looks Like In Every State"
• National Conference of State Legislatures, "Redistricting Process"
• FairVote, "Redistricting"

Footnotes

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