102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2033

 

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Don Harmon - Ram Villivalam

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 120/5-5

    Amends the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. Provides that, in any redistricting plan pursuant to Illinois law for the redistricting or reapportionment of county board districts, such districts shall be drawn to create crossover districts, coalition districts, or influence districts. Provides that the requirements imposed by this Article are in addition and subordinate to any requirements or obligations imposed by the United States Constitution, any federal law regarding redistricting, including, but not limited to, the federal Voting Rights Act, and the Illinois Constitution. Effective immediately.


LRB102 17292 SMS 22772 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2033LRB102 17292 SMS 22772 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 is
5amended by changing Section 5-5 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 120/5-5)
7    Sec. 5-5. Redistricting.
8    (a) In any redistricting plan pursuant to Article IV,
9Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, Legislative Districts
10and Representative Districts shall be drawn, subject to
11subsection (d) of this Section, to create crossover districts,
12coalition districts, or influence districts. The requirements
13imposed by this Article are in addition and subordinate to any
14requirements or obligations imposed by the United States
15Constitution, any federal law regarding redistricting
16Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, including
17but not limited to the federal Voting Rights Act, and the
18Illinois Constitution.
19    (a-5) In any redistricting plan pursuant to Illinois law
20for the redistricting or reapportionment of county board
21districts, such districts shall be drawn, subject to
22subsection (d), to create crossover districts, coalition
23districts, or influence districts.

 

 

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1    (b) The phrase "crossover district" means a district where
2a racial minority or language minority constitutes less than a
3majority of the voting-age population but where this minority,
4at least potentially, is large enough to elect the candidate
5of its choice with help from voters who are members of the
6majority and who cross over to support the minority's
7preferred candidate. The phrase "coalition district" means a
8district where more than one group of racial minorities or
9language minorities may form a coalition to elect the
10candidate of the coalition's choice. The phrase "influence
11district" means a district where a racial minority or language
12minority can influence the outcome of an election even if its
13preferred candidate cannot be elected.
14    (c) For purposes of this Act, the phrase "racial
15minorities or language minorities", in either the singular or
16the plural, means the same class of voters who are members of a
17race, color, or language minority group receiving protection
18under the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973; 42
19U.S.C. § 1973b(f)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(e).
20    (d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed, applied, or
21implemented in a way that imposes any requirement or
22obligation that conflicts with the United States Constitution,
23any federal law regarding redistricting Legislative Districts
24or Representative Districts, including but not limited to the
25federal Voting Rights Act, or the Illinois Constitution and
26the requirements imposed by this Article are in addition to

 

 

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1and subordinate to any requirements or obligations imposed by
2such Constitutions and laws.
3    (e) In the event of a violation of this Act, the
4redistricting plan shall be redrawn to the least extent
5necessary to remedy the violation.
6(Source: P.A. 96-1541, eff. 3-7-11.)
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.