98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2788

 

Introduced , by Rep. Mike Fortner

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 120/5-5

    Amends the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. Provides that no Legislative District or Representative Districts shall include fewer than 50 voters within the boundaries of a township, county, or election commission.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB2788LRB098 09852 HLH 40008 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. To the extent
13practicable, no Legislative District or Representative
14Districts shall include fewer than 50 voters within the
15boundaries of a township, county, or election commission. The
16requirements imposed by this Article are in addition and
17subordinate to any requirements or obligations imposed by the
18United States Constitution, any federal law regarding
19redistricting Legislative Districts or Representative
20Districts, including but not limited to the federal Voting
21Rights Act, and the Illinois Constitution.
22    (b) The phrase "crossover district" means a district where
23a racial minority or language minority constitutes less than a

 

 

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1majority of the voting-age population but where this minority,
2at least potentially, is large enough to elect the candidate of
3its choice with help from voters who are members of the
4majority and who cross over to support the minority's preferred
5candidate. The phrase "coalition district" means a district
6where more than one group of racial minorities or language
7minorities may form a coalition to elect the candidate of the
8coalition's choice. The phrase "influence district" means a
9district where a racial minority or language minority can
10influence the outcome of an election even if its preferred
11candidate cannot be elected.
12    (c) For purposes of this Act, the phrase "racial minorities
13or language minorities", in either the singular or the plural,
14means the same class of voters who are members of a race,
15color, or language minority group receiving protection under
16the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973; 42 U.S.C. §
171973b(f)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(e).
18    (d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed, applied, or
19implemented in a way that imposes any requirement or obligation
20that conflicts with the United States Constitution, any federal
21law regarding redistricting Legislative Districts or
22Representative Districts, including but not limited to the
23federal Voting Rights Act, or the Illinois Constitution.
24    (e) In the event of a violation of this Act, the
25redistricting plan shall be redrawn to the least extent
26necessary to remedy the violation.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 96-1541, eff. 3-7-11.)