From a press release:

PEORIA — The Illinois Fair Map Amendment will be the subject of a rally and talk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Childers Banquet Center at 3113 Dries Lane at Forrest Hill in Peoria.

The event officially begins the central Illinois drive to collect petitions to place the amendment proposal on the November election ballot. If approved by the voters, it will require that redistricting for the Illinois General Assembly by conducted by an independent commission, and not the legislators themselves, as occurs now.

Speakers will be Jan Czarnik and Brad McMillan.

Czarnik is executive director of the Illinois League of Women Voters. She is an expert in election law and worked to pass Illinois early voting and deputy registrar laws. McMillan, a former aide to Cong. Ray LaHood, now directs the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Studies at Bradley University.

Petitions will be available for signing and for passing. The League, in a coalition with other groups in Illinois, hopes to gain 500,000 signatures by April 1 to place the proposal on the ballot.

This a meeting where breakfast is optional, at about $10. The sponsor of the event, the Greater Peoria League of Women Voters will appreciate reservations, which can be made by calling 309/674-5313 or sending an email to ehopkins7@prodigy.net.

The event is free and open to the public and the press. Information on the amendment is available at www.ilfairmap.com.