A proposed Illinois referendum aimed at protecting redistricting has been put on hold, according to a May 2 announcement. The pause follows a recent Supreme Court voting rights decision that has weakened a key Civil Rights-era law.
The delay is significant for many voters in Illinois, as it impacts the future of how legislative maps are drawn and who holds political power in the state. The statement said, “A last-minute attempt by Speaker Welch and Illinois Democrats to further gerrymander our legislative maps has been thwarted, for now. This is a huge victory for millions of Illinois voters. We must remain vigilant and proactive going forward, as these attempts to seize absolute power by Democrats could continue as early as next year.”
As reported by ABC 7 Chicago, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling played a central role in pausing the proposed measure.
Dan Ugaste, a Republican who was elected to represent Illinois’ 65th House District in 2019, replaced former state representative Steven Andersson according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Observers note that future efforts regarding redistricting could resume as soon as next year.
