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Advocates Continue Push To Have Voting Districts Determined By Independent Panel

(CBS) -- Advocates are pushing hard--for the third time--to get a measure on the ballot that would establish an independent commission to decide on legislative voting districts and eliminate what they say is partisan gerrymandering, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

A group called People's Map, made up of unions, businesspeople and minority organizations, says the Independent Map Commission in the proposed Constitutional Amendment doesn't guarantee minority representation.

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But Deborah Harrington, Interim Director of CHANGE Illinois says, yes it does and it prohibits gerrymandering minority communities into pieces as has happened in the past.

"We make it clear that legislative districts must comply with federal civil rights laws," Harrington.

And if opponents suggest the independent map campaign helps Republicans force Democrats out of office, Cindi Canary director of the Independent Map Amendment Coalition, scoffs at that:

"If the people of Illinois want to vote for Democrats, they will keep voting for Democrats," Canary says. "This will not change how people vote."

And Canary says it's Illinois voters who will—and should—decide to have voting lines drawn by an independent bipartisan panel.

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