NEWS

RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR MORE INFORMATION: Thursday, May 19, 2011 Rikeesha Phelon, Press Secretary (217) 782‐0577 | [email protected]

John Patterson, Deputy Press Secretary (217) 782‐1012 | [email protected]

SENATE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE RELEASES PROPOSAL Web‐based tools allow public to review boundaries

SPRINGFIELD, – Senate Redistricting Chairman Kwame Raoul today released a redistricting proposal for public review. The Senate proposal can be viewed and downloaded online at www.ilSenateRedistricting.com. In addition, the website provides visitors with the ability to review Census‐driven data of the proposed legislative district boundaries.

“Today’s release is part of the aggressive effort we’ve taken to engage the public in the redistricting process,” Raoul said. “Because of the advances and availability of web‐based technology, anyone with an Internet connection can view this proposal.”

Raoul also announced that the Senate Redistricting Committee will conduct two additional public hearings. The meetings, which will be streamed live over the Internet, are scheduled as follows:

CHICAGO: SPRINGFIELD: Saturday, May 21, 2011 | 12:00 PM Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 9:00 AM Michael A. Bilandic Building Illinois State Capitol Committee Room C‐600 Committee Room 114 Note: This will be a joint hearing of both House and Senate Redistricting Committees.

To view live, streaming video of these hearings, visit www.ilSenateRedistricting.com.

Citizens seeking to testify at either of these hearings should send an e‐mail to [email protected]. Emails regarding the hearing should be sent no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, May 20. For the Springfield hearing, please issue requests no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, May 23.

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Attached, find an overview of the redistricting process, as well as a comprehensive listing of public hearings conducted by the Redistricting Committee since its creation in 2009.

Senator Kwame Raoul, Chairman | www.ilSenateRedistricting.com | www.IllinoisSenateDemocrats.com

AN OVERVIEW OF ILLINOIS’ REDISTRICTING

In February 2011, the Census Bureau released its 2010 population totals for Illinois.

The U.S. and Illinois constitutions require that in the year following the census, the General Assembly must redraw the boundary lines of the congressional and legislative districts to account for the population shifts over the past 10 years.

“In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts.” ‐ Illinois Constitution ‐ Article IV, Section 3(b)

Guiding this endeavor is the U.S. Constitution, which requires that the map respect the One Person One Vote principle and districts contain substantially equal population.

As a result of the 2010 census, the target population for each State House district is 108,734. The ideal population for each State Senate district is 217,468.

The map must also comply with the Federal Voting Rights Act, which requires minorities be provided an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral process and elect candidates of their choice.

At the state level, the Illinois Constitution requires that the districts be substantially equal in population, compact and contiguous.

“Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous and substantially equal in population. Representative Districts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.” ‐ Illinois Constitution‐ Article IV, Section 3(a)

In addition, the Illinois Voting Rights Act further requires that minorities have a voice in the electoral process after compliance with the federal and constitutional requirements.

Senator Kwame Raoul, Chairman | www.ilSenateRedistricting.com | www.IllinoisSenateDemocrats.com

Illinois Senate Redistricting Hearings: Timeline July 29, 2009 Chicago, IL; James R. Thompson Center The History and Process of Redistricting in Illinois

August 18, 2009 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building Redistricting Legal Principles & Requirements & a Review of Other States' Redistricting Processes

September 22, 2009 Peoria, IL; Bradley University Proposals for Changing the Current Redistricting Process in Illinois

October 13, 2009 Carbondale, IL; University at Carbondale Proposals for Changing the Current Redistricting Process in Illinois

October 28, 2009 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building Proposals for Changing the Current Redistricting Process in Illinois

December 8, 2009 Chicago, IL; Kent College of Law The Voting Rights Act and Other Legal Requirements of Redistricting

April 12, 2010 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building The Citizens First Amendment (SJRCA 121) passes the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee 7‐5‐0

April 14, 2010 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building The Citizens First Amendment (SJRCA 121) passes the Illinois Senate 36‐22‐0

November 30, 2010 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building The Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 (SB 3976) passes the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee 12‐0‐0

December 1, 2010 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building The Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 (SB 3976) passes the Illinois Senate 53‐4‐0

March 7, 2011 Chicago Chinatown, IL; Grand Hall of the Chinese American Service League The Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 (PA 96‐1541) is signed into law by Governor Quinn

Senator Kwame Raoul, Chairman | www.ilSenateRedistricting.com | www.IllinoisSenateDemocrats.com March 28, 2011 Chicago, IL; Bilandic Building Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 6, 2011 Springfield, IL; Illinois State Capitol Building Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 16, 2011 Peoria, IL; Peoria Red Cross Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 16, 2011 Kankakee, IL; Kankakee Community College Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 19, 2011 Cicero, IL; “New Cicero” Community Center Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 21, 2011 Carbondale, IL; Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 21, 2011 Elmhurst, IL; Elmhurst City Hall Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 26, 2011 Yorkville, IL; United City of Yorkville City Hall Chambers Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 28, 2011 Chicago’s South Suburbs, IL; Governor's State University Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 28, 2011 Macomb, IL; Western Illinois University Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

April 30, 2011 Streamwood, IL; Streamwood Police Department Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

Senator Kwame Raoul, Chairman | www.ilSenateRedistricting.com | www.IllinoisSenateDemocrats.com

April 30, 2011 Chicago’s Westside, IL; Malcolm X College Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

May 2, 2011 Alton, IL; Alton City Hall Public Hearing on the Boundaries of Illinois' Congressional, Legislative and Representative Districts

Senator Kwame Raoul, Chairman | www.ilSenateRedistricting.com | www.IllinoisSenateDemocrats.com