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| Public Act 096-1541 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning elections.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Article 5. ILLINOIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2011 | ||||
Section 5-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the | ||||
Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. All references in this | ||||
Article to "this Act" mean this Article. | ||||
Section 5-5. Redistricting. | ||||
(a) In any redistricting plan pursuant to Article IV, | ||||
Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution, Legislative Districts | ||||
and Representative Districts shall be drawn, subject to | ||||
subsection (d) of this Section, to create crossover districts, | ||||
coalition districts, or influence districts. 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 | ||||
Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, including | ||||
but not limited to the federal Voting Rights Act, and the | ||||
Illinois Constitution. | ||||
(b) The phrase "crossover district" means a district where | ||||
a racial minority or language minority constitutes less than a | ||||
majority of the voting-age population but where this minority, | ||||
at least potentially, is large enough to elect the candidate of | ||
its choice with help from voters who are members of the | ||
majority and who cross over to support the minority's preferred | ||
candidate. The phrase "coalition district" means a district | ||
where more than one group of racial minorities or language | ||
minorities may form a coalition to elect the candidate of the | ||
coalition's choice. The phrase "influence district" means a | ||
district where a racial minority or language minority can | ||
influence the outcome of an election even if its preferred | ||
candidate cannot be elected. | ||
(c) For purposes of this Act, the phrase "racial minorities | ||
or language minorities", in either the singular or the plural, | ||
means the same class of voters who are members of a race, | ||
color, or language minority group receiving protection under | ||
the federal Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973; 42 U.S.C. § | ||
1973b(f)(2); 42 U.S.C. § 1973aa-1a(e). | ||
(d) Nothing in this Act shall be construed, applied, or | ||
implemented in a way that imposes any requirement or obligation | ||
that conflicts with the United States Constitution, any federal | ||
law regarding redistricting Legislative Districts or | ||
Representative Districts, including but not limited to the | ||
federal Voting Rights Act, or the Illinois Constitution. | ||
(e) In the event of a violation of this Act, the | ||
redistricting plan shall be redrawn to the least extent | ||
necessary to remedy the violation. | ||
Article 10. REDISTRICTING TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC | ||
PARTICIPATION ACT | ||
Section 10-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the | ||
Redistricting Transparency and Public Participation Act. All | ||
references in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article. | ||
Section 10-5. Committees; notices; hearings; public | ||
participation.
In the year following each federal decennial | ||
census year, the Senate and House of Representatives shall each | ||
establish a committee, or the Senate and House of | ||
Representatives may create by joint resolution a joint | ||
committee of both chambers, to consider proposals to redistrict | ||
the Legislative Districts or Representative Districts, as | ||
applicable. After the receipt of the federal decennial census | ||
data from the federal government, each committee or joint | ||
committee must conduct at least 4 public hearings statewide to | ||
receive testimony and inform the public on the applicable | ||
existing Districts, with one hearing held in each of 4 distinct | ||
geographic regions of the State determined by the respective | ||
committee. All hearings shall be open to the public. The | ||
Chairperson of each committee or the Co-Chairpersons of a joint | ||
committee, as applicable, shall, no later than 6 days before | ||
any proposed hearing, post a notice with the Secretary of the | ||
Senate, Clerk of the House, or both, as applicable. The notice | ||
shall identify any measure and subject matter that may be | ||
considered during that hearing. The notice shall contain the | ||
day, hour, and place of the hearing. | ||
Article 99. EFFECTIVE DATE
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Section 99-99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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