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The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the topic of legislative redistricting, which on the surface might seem interesting only to policy wonks and editorial boards. But hear us out: A decision from the high court could cause waves in Illinois – and after what we’ve seen this session in Springfield, we hope it does.

After all, ours is a state in which gerrymandering is a time-honored partisan tradition, as evidenced by truly bizarre state House and Senate district lines. Many, especially in the Chicago area, resemble abstract artworks, with boundaries turning and twisting to accommodate communities, neighborhoods and blocks.

It looks like a mess, and there’s a good reason for that. The state Legislature crafts the borders, pending gubernatorial approval, which means whatever political party is in control rewrites the map for both General Assembly and Congressional districts. By using data on voter turnout and who won, legislators can simply adjust here and there to benefit their party.

The handiwork is blatantly political — and perfectly OK under current rules.