This week the Senate Redistricting Committee held its first downstate hearing in Springfield at the Capitol. Chairman Kwame Raoul and committee members heard testimony from representatives of a variety of groups voicing concerns about where new legislative district lines will be drawn.

This second hearing lasted just under two hours and the committee heard testimony from Chicago minority communities and downstate counties concerned about keeping their communities intact. Southern Illinois residents said some counties are represented by so many lawmakers in Springfield and Washington that people are confused and election officials have difficulty producing accurate ballots.

Minority community representatives also asked for their populations to be kept intact so that their political voice retains impact.

On April 16, the Senate’s Redistricting Committee will be traveling to Peoria and Kankakee to receive input from the public on what congressional and state legislative maps should look like.

The Peoria hearing will take place at 10:00 am at the Peoria Red Cross at 311 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Avenue. The Kankakee hearing will take place in the Iroquois Room (D152) at Kankakee Community College at noon.

Citizens seeking to testify should send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to reserve a place on the agenda. However, individuals not on the agenda will also be given the opportunity to testify.