Redistricting Update

First Look at The People’s City Ward Map

The Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission unveiled the final iteration of an independently drawn ward map created with input from community members at a press conference on Wednesday, October 6. The new map seeks to eliminate ward boundaries that have been drawn by alderpersons to maintain their locally concentrated power.

The hope now is to gain support from ten alderpersons by December 1 so The People’s Map may appear on the ballot. As reported on WGN-TV, getting approval of the independent map is a long shot.

“Never before have the people of Chicago been given a seat at the table to chart a possible path forward and future for themselves,” said Graciela Covarrubias of the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission.

“We need to get the information about the map out to the people so that they can demand it of their alders,” said Chris Kanich of the Chicago Advisory Redistricting Commission.

In the past, the mayor and council members drew the map behind closed doors. This time around, some issues were raised publicly.

LWV Chicago’s Zooming with the Aldermen series provides information from alderpersons on their views of redistricting.

The Map

The People’s Map has 15 majority Black wards, 14 majority Latino wards, and the first ever majority Asian ward in Chinatown.

The wards on the map are intentionally not numbered in order to eliminate associations with incumbents and the city council’s process. The map intentionally did not take incumbent addresses into consideration.

The lettering starts with the most southern ward and the letters go up from there. For instance, A is the most southern, B is the second most southern, C is the third most southern, and so on.

The Ward Mapping Process

LWV Chicago cannot take a position regarding the People's Map. Individual members should submit their opinions to their alderpersons.

Members should also urge their alderperson and Mayor Lightfoot to keep in mind that communities of interest are best served when they are within a single ward in the final approved map.

Chicago alderpersons have decided to deal with redistricting under the auspices of the City Council's Rules Committee chaired by Michelle Harris, 8th Ward.

LWVUS' official position favors the use of independent commissions when redistricting. Specifically, LWVUS “believes responsibility for redistricting preferably should be vested in an independent special commission, with membership that reflects the diversity of the unit of government, including citizens at large, representatives of public interest groups, and members of minority groups.” 

Illinois US Congressional Redistricting

Illinois has lost a US Congressional district, falling from 18 to 17 as a result of the 2020 Census. Unfortunately, as of press time, the proposed maps have not been released to the public!

The Illinois General Assembly is, however, holding hearings about the proposed US Congressional districts.

As LWVIL President Allyson Haut states, “the process for adopting IL Congressional District Maps is following the same pattern as the one to adopt the State Legislative District Maps, with a lack of transparency and no assurance that the public will be able to have meaningful input prior to votes approving Congressional District Maps.” 

Let your state senator and state representatives know if you are not satisfied with this process.