A referendum aimed at changing the way Illinois draws up its political districts will not be on the November ballot. The proposal would give redistricting power to an eleven member commission, but the Illinois Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to keep it off the ballot.
More than 500-thousand voters, including a coalition of business leaders and public interest groups, signed petitions to put the amendment to a vote. The current law allows the party in power to draw district boundaries. Illinois' Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan opposed the referendum saying it would hurt protections that ensure minority representation.
