Independent Maps Completes Massive Petition Drive

CHICAGO, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Independent Maps, the non-partisan statewide coalition advocating for redistricting reform, announced on Friday that its yearlong petition campaign has been completed successfully with the collection of more than twice the number of signatures needed to place the reform before voters this November.

"Volunteers from every corner of Illinois have built a mountain of petitions signed by hundreds of thousands of voters looking to stop Illinois politicians from drawing state legislative maps, in secret, for their own benefit," said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of Independent Maps. "We will now travel to Springfield to submit our petitions with the purpose of placing the Independent Map Amendment on the fall ballot. Illinois voters deserve a chance to replace the current, flawed system and have their legislative district maps drawn by an independent commission in a transparent and fair manner."

Independent Maps will submit petitions with at least twice the mandated minimum of 290,216 signatures of registered voters. The exact number will be known after each petition page is reviewed again by coalition staff in Springfield and loaded into a secure metal box as required by state regulations. Submission to state officials will occur before the May 9 deadline to qualify proposed constitutional amendments for the November election.

"Voters have had enough of Illinois electoral maps being drawn by politicians for politicians," FitzSimons continued. "They are tired of uncontested elections and more than ready to take back their state by having an independent commission draw Illinois district maps so that citizens' votes count again."

For complete news release, go to http://www.mapamendment.org/news/10365.

Paid for by Support Independent Maps.  A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150423/201324LOGO

SOURCE Independent Maps

Related Links

http://www.mapamendment.org