Independent Maps Announces $1 Million Summer Media Campaign

USA Profile Username: jon@newsinnovations.com / edit profile Independent Maps Announces $1 Million Summer Media Campaign PR Newswire CHICAGO, July 8, 2016 CHICAGO, July 8, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Independent Maps coalition on Friday began a $1 million summer television and digital ad campaign to tell voters how they can change the system with fair elections that will make politicians listen to voters. "Illinois voters are frustrated with the current dysfunction in their state government and the fact that they have only one candidate to vote for in 60 percent of state legislative races," said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of the non-profit, non-partisan Independent Maps. "So from now through the November election, we intend to increase voter awareness of the current map drawing process that causes their frustration and tell them how they can change this broken system." The 30-second ad "Rally" tells voters: "You can rally. You can organize. You can exercise your right to vote. But because politicians in Springfield rig the system and draw the boundaries of their own districts so they can't lose, nothing ever changes, and no one is held accountable for the culture of corruption or the budget stalemate. But by voting 'yes' on the Independent Map Amendment, citizens can change the system with fair elections that will make politicians listen to voters." A companion 15-second commercial "Organize" carries the same, but shortened message. "The current system allows legislators to draw their own district lines behind closed doors to maximize their advantage and reduce choices for voters," FitzSimons said. "And the inherent conflict of interest needs to be crystal clear to voters. Poll after poll has shown strong voter support for reforming the way legislative district maps are drawn, and that popularity translated into more than 560,000 signatures on petitions to place the Independent Map Amendment on the 2016 ballot." A spring poll by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute found 64 percent of Illinois voters support having an independent commission draw legislative maps. To read full news release, go to http://www.mapamendment.org/news/10559 Paid for by Support Independent Maps.  A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website (www.elections.il.gov) or for purchase from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Rally_Independent_Map_Amendment_HD.mp4 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150423/201324LOGO SOURCE Independent Maps CONTACT: Jim Bray, 217-494-5532 Web Site: http://www.mapamendment.org Follow Us To change the settings for your profile(s) or email delivery, go to https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/profile/?action=editProfile and select the profile you would like to edit. You can select the industries, subjects, languages, geographical areas, companies, delivery options and delivery frequencies of your choice. In addition to current press releases, you can also find archived news, corporate information, photos, tradeshow news and much more on the PR Newswire for Journalists website: https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com To contact us, email: mediasite@prnewswire.com Please do not reply to this email; this is an automatically generated message. Copyright © PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved. A UBM plc company. Our mailing address is: 350 Hudson Street, Suite 300 New York, NY 10014-4504