Rockford Sun

State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) posted a message on his Facebook page calling his fellow Illinoisans to end gerrymandering. He’s asking them to sign a petition calling for fair, non-partisan redistricting through an independent commission.

Syverson put up a petition on his website where people who oppose gerrymandering can sign. Gerrymandering is drawing the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party over another.

Syverson wrote, “It’s time for Illinois to finally end the practice of partisan gerrymandering where politicians are allowed to pick their voters instead of people choosing their elected officials.”

Other Illinois Republicans have voiced their opposition to gerrymandering.

State Reps. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) and Tim Butler (R-Springfield) have also called upon their fellow lawmakers to denounce the practice. According to PeoriaPublicRadio.org, Butler wants to create an independent committee comprised of 11 members to handle redistricting in the state and he wants it done before the legislative remapping that is scheduled to happen later this year.

State Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) tried to dissuade the notion that the Republican Party is only trying to elect more of them to the General Assembly. She said that they just want fair representation and that people from the same neighborhood should be represented by someone who lives in their area.