Prairie State Wire

The practice of prison gerrymandering is set to linger here in Illinois at least through 2031.

Many thought the practice was over back in January when lawmakers passed a bill long championed by state Rep. LaShawn Ford that banned the practice of counting incarcerated people at their prison’s location rather than their last residence for the purposes of redistricting and apportionment.

But now comes word that the new law won’t take effect for another decade because of a clause in the law that delays implementation.

“If there is a consensus that this is an unjust way of counting population, and that counting population really matters for our government functions and the services that residents receive in the community, then it matters in 2021, and it matters for the next 10 years,” Louisa Manske, the policy and communications director at Chicago-based Workers Center For Racial Justice, told The Appeal: Political Report.

Even after it is implemented, some lament the reform will only impact how the state legislature’s districts are drawn and will have no effect on the way gerrymandering impacts congressional or local districts.