Illinois Code § 5

§ 5.

Findings. In enacting this redistricting plan, the General Assembly finds and declares all of the following: (a) Under Article IV, Section 3 of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, in the year following each federal decennial census year, the General Assembly is required to redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts by law by June 30. (b) The United States Census Bureau failed to deliver the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171 population data to the States, including Illinois, by March 31, 2021 as required by the federal Census Act and did not release the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171 population data to the States, including Illinois, until August 12, 2021. (c) To comply with its constitutional duty, the General Assembly used the United States Census Bureau's 2015-2019 American Community Survey population data to redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts under Public Act 102-10 which became effective June 4, 2021, and incorporated the provisions of House Resolution 359 and Senate Resolution 326 of the 102nd General Assembly. (d) The United States Census Bureau's 2015-2019 American Community Survey data was the most accurate, recent low-level population data available to the Illinois public in the spring of 2021 and at the time Public Act 102-10 was enacted. The total resident population of Illinois according to the 2015-2019 American Community Survey data was 12,770,577, which is approximately 0.3% less than the total resident population from the 2020 Census. (d-5) This amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly amends this Act, as it was in effect on June 4, 2021, to adjust the plan for redistricting the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts to incorporate the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171 population data following its release by the United States Census Bureau on August 12, 2021. (e) In establishing boundaries for Illinois Legislative and Representative Districts ("Districts"), the following redistricting principles were taken into account: (1) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to be substantially equal in population; (2) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to be consistent with the United States Constitution; (3) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to be consistent with the federal Voting Rights Act, where applicable; (4) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to be compact and contiguous, as required by the Illinois Constitution; (5) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to be consistent with the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011, where applicable; and (6) each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn taking into account the partisan composition of the District and of the Plan itself. (f) In addition to the redistricting principles set forth in subsection (e), each of the Districts contained in the 2021 General Assembly Redistricting Plan was drawn to reflect a balance of the following redistricting principles: the preservation of the core or boundaries of the existing Districts; the preservation of communities of interest; respect for county, township, municipal, ward, and other political subdivision boundaries; the maintenance of incumbent-constituent relationships and tracking of population migration; proposals or other input submitted by members of the public and stakeholder groups; public hearing testimony; other incumbent requests; respect for geographic features and natural or logical boundaries; and other redistricting principles recognized by state and federal court decisions. The changes proposed in this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly incorporate and use the same principles as Public Act 102-10, with changes to incorporate the 2020 Census Public Law 94-171 population data and other recommendations made by the public. (g) For purposes of legislative intent, the General Assembly adopts and incorporates herein, as if fully set forth, the provisions of House Resolution 443 of the 102nd General Assembly and Senate Resolution 3 of the 1st Special Session of the 102nd General Assembly. (h) This amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly amends the Legislative Districts and Representative Districts enacted in Public Act 102-10. The provisions enacted in this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly shall be construed to take precedence over any conflict of law in accordance with the Statute on Statutes. (Source: P.A. 102-10, eff. 6-4-21; 102-663, eff. 9-24-21.)