A divided Illinois Supreme Court put out an opinion Thursday rejecting a potential change to the state constitution.
The question would have asked voters if they wanted to take away legislators’ power to draw their own district boundaries and give that authority to a commission.
A half million Illinois residents signed a petition in support of putting the question on the November ballot.
Instead, the four justices elected as Democrats ruled it unconstitutional --- citizens’ initiatives are narrowly limited in what they can change about the constitution, and this redistricting plan went too far.
The three justices elected as Republicans each wrote sharp rebukes of that reading.
Justice Robert Thomas wrote “the Illinois constitution is meant to prevent tyranny, not enshrine it.”
The Illinois Supreme Court blocked a similar effort two years ago.
The challenge was brought by a group of prominent minorities, who said re-map proposal would to less minority representation in the legislature. Their attorney also serves as chief counsel for the Democratic Party of Illinois.
