Learn more about what redistricting means for your community and share input on the process

Under state law, every 10 years all Illinois counties are required to use Census data to go through a redistricting process--known as reapportionment--to ensure that each district includes approximately the same number of residents.

On Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart will host four separate virtual public meetings to discuss the reapportionment process and to gather input from residents. Each meeting will focus on a separate quadrant of the County:

• Northeast Lake County: Wednesday, May 19; 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
  Register here
  (Beach Park, Gurnee, North Chicago, Old Mill Creek, Park City, Wadsworth, Waukegan, Winthrop Harbor, Zion)

• Southeast Lake County: Wednesday, May 19; 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
  Register here
  (Bannockburn, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Highland Park, Highwood, Green Oaks, Indian Creek, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mettawa, East portion of Mundelein, Vernon Hills)

• Northwest Lake County: Thursday, May 20; 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
  Register here
  (Antioch, Fox Lake, Lake Villa, Lakemoor, Grayslake, Hainesville, Lindenhurst, Old Mill Creek, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Third Lake, Volo)

• Southwest Lake County: Thursday, May 20; 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
  Register here
  (Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Fox River Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, West portion of Mundelein, North Barrington, Port Barrington, Round Lake Park, Tower Lakes, Wauconda, Wheeling)

Earlier this year, the Lake County Board created a Reapportionment Committee to review the 2020 census data and to recommend a reapportionment (redistricting) plan for Lake County. Currently, the County is divided into 21 separate districts, each with its own elected representative. View the current district boundaries

The Reapportionment Committee is charged with determining the number of County Board districts and ensuring that they are equal in population. Other considerations include:

• Whether districts should be single-member or multi-member
• Ensuring compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act
• How the County Board Chair is selected (appointed by board members or elected at-large)
• Method of compensation

"We look forward to talking with residents and community groups as we work toward making sure each district is properly represented in this important process," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "Reapportionment can impact our daily lives and the board appreciates everyone who's able to share their ideas and concerns."

State law currently requires that the County develop an updated district boundary map no later than July 1, 2021 or by the regularly scheduled July Board meeting. However, the federal census data necessary to create the map has been delayed until September 2021. With this late date, the 2020 census data will be unavailable to be used unless the State of Illinois changes the current July deadline.

The reapportionment process takes place every 10 years and is based on Census data: www.census.gov.

To learn more and to view the Lake County Reapportionment Committee meetings, visit https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4569/Reapportionment-Committee.