July 2021

In a recent speech about challenges to voting rights, President Biden said, “I’m not saying this to alarm you, I’m saying this because you should be alarmed.”

The League of Women Voters of Illinois is alarmed. I am alarmed, are you?

I am alarmed because across our country state legislatures are passing bills which are anti-voter, enacting laws which restrict voting opportunities, disproportionality suppressing the votes of certain groups of people. 

The health of our democracy depends on more voters, not fewer.

What’s the answer? It is the For the People Act - a federal bill which establishes national standards that will guarantee the freedom to vote for every voter in the country. Why? Because your right to vote and your access to the ballot should be the same in every state in our country. 

Each of us must act to protect our democracy. We all have two jobs:
  1. Tell our senators 
  2. Share the information and activate our networks.

Our Senators need to know that we support the For the People Act, and that we expect them to keep up the pressure to get it passed. Call or email and tell them exactly that. Today. 
Senator Durbin:
Senator Duckworth:

Share and activate. Tell everyone the For the People Act is crucial. Our freedom to vote is at stake. Our democracy is at stake. 

Be the trusted source of information for your friends, your family, your neighbors, your faith group, your book club … call, write, send emails, share LWVIL’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter messages. Ask people to do the same. Everyone needs to know how important this is, and everyone needs to take action.  

We all need the For the People Act.
President
League of Women Voters of Illinois 
National Candlelight Vigils, July 17
Attend one of the Good Trouble candlelight vigils that are being held nationwide on the anniversary of Senator John Lewis’ passing. Honor the memory of Senator Lewis by calling for the protection of our freedom to vote with the passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

For the People Act
The survival of our democracy depends on people having the freedom to vote. Congress needs to pass the For the People Act. 

The For the People Act will create national standards to make voting options equally accessible across all 50 states, reduce the influence of dark money in our federal elections, and curb partisan gerrymandering in Congressional districts—changes which will serve to protect the voices of Illinoisans.

Current Illinois laws provide voters with some of the most accessible elections in the country. However, in other states, new and existing laws deliberately limit voting access, disproportionately affecting people of color, women and young people.

Every voter in the country deserves the same protections and freedoms.

It is only when all voters have the same opportunity to choose their representatives that the voices of all people will be heard in Congress. We must strengthen national voting rights and increase voter participation. Your freedom to vote should be the same in every state, no matter where you live. 

The For the People Act has strong bipartisan support among a majority of voters. Free, fair and accessible elections will result in increased voter turnout and elevate the voice of all Americans. 
“Americans are calling on this Senate to protect the integrity of our democracy — and to secure our Constitutional rights. If preserving the right to vote means reforming the Senate’s rules, then so be it. There is no excuse for inaction. Nothing less than the future of American freedom is on the line.”

“Expanding voting rights, getting big money out of our politics and strengthening our anti-corruption laws are all common-sense reforms needed to restore trust in our elections and our government.”
Provisions of the For the People Act
The provisions in the 886 page bill are divided into three sections: voting, campaign finance and ethics. The Brennan Center for Justice provides a detailed look. Here are some key voting provisions:

Voter Registration
  • Allows online, automatic, and same day registration
  • Provides funds for modernization of voter registration
  • Makes it unlawful to interfere with voter registration
  • Prohibits returned, non-forwardable mail as a basis for removal from voter rolls
  • Clarifies that failure to vote is not grounds for removal from voter rolls

Ballot Access
  • Prohibits those who are not election officers from challenging a voter's eligibility
  • Improves voting access for those with disabilities
  • Prohibits mis/disinformation and voter intimidation
  • Provides for restoration of voting rights after felony time served
  • Requires 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections
  • Requires polling places to be located near public transportation
  • Makes no excuse voting by mail available
  • Allows for postage paid for all voting materials
  • Allows universities to register voters
  • Requires voters be notified of polling place changes no later than 7 days before an election
  • Provides accommodations for voters residing in Native lands
  • Requires secure drop boxes for federal elections
  • Makes election day a public holiday

Election Security
  • Establishes standards for vendors and equipment
  • Directs the US Election Assistance Commission to develop best practices and guidelines for ballot design
  • Requires regular system testing
  • Makes grants available to states for updating voting equipment
  • Requires investigation of potential cybersecurity incidents
  • Authorizes grants for risk-limiting audits
  • Requires scheduled testing of voting equipment

Redistricting
  • Requires every state to have an independent Redistricting Commission to draw congressional districts
  • Ends practice of prison gerrymandering
Illinois Primary Election moved to June 28
New election law improves voter access to ballot
A new Illinois election law delays the 2022 Primary Election by three months, a change that allows for the use of 2020 census data for redistricting. Because the pandemic delayed the census, existing legal deadlines would have required that Illinois district maps be redrawn before census counts were available.

The Primary Election delay was just one of the many changes in the law designed to make Illinois elections more fair and accessible, protecting the freedom to vote for all Illinois voters. 

The law also makes the following changes: 
  • Allows voters to apply for permanent vote by mail status, eliminating the need to apply for a ballot every election
  • Allows election authorities to let a citizen vote from their car on election day, monitored by two election judges
  • Requires each election authority to open a voting center either at the election authority site or in their largest municipality; voters can use either the voting center or their precinct
  • Requires election authorities to implement cybersecurity measures, including biennial risk assessments and monthly vulnerability scans
  • Requires high schools to provide voter registration information to students
  • Requires high schools to allow nonpartisan voter registration activities on site
  • Allows sheriffs to establish temporary polling places in county jails so those who have not been convicted of a crime can vote based upon their residence address
  • Allows those who have been banned from running for office due to conviction for certain crimes to petition the governor for restoration of that right
  • Prevents a local government from requiring that a member of the General Assembly resign from office before running for a local office
  • Declares election day, November 8, 2022 to be a state and school holiday
Did You Know?
Filibuster and Cloture
Discussion of the For the People act was blocked by a filibuster in late June, as it failed to obtain the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, with the Senate divided 50-50 along party lines. Now, some senators are calling for filibuster reform as a way to get the bill passed.

What are filibuster and cloture?
“The Senate tradition of unlimited debate has allowed for the use of the filibuster, a loosely defined term for action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, resolution, amendment, or other debatable question,” according to the Senate website.

“Prior to 1917, the Senate rules did not provide for a way to end debate and force a vote on a measure. That year, the Senate adopted a rule to allow a two-thirds majority to end a filibuster, a procedure known as cloture.

“In 1975, the Senate reduced the number of votes required for cloture from two-thirds of senators voting to three-fifths of all senators duly chosen and sworn, or 60 of the 100-member Senate.”

Where does the League stand?
The League of Women Voters has long called for filibuster reform to ensure a functioning democracy. Ending filibuster abuse will ensure issues the American public cares about can move through Congress. 

“Reforming the filibuster would prohibit the minority party from blocking the opening debate of a bill.,” said League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase Solomon in her statement.

“The filibuster reforms the League supports include: instituting a 'talking filibuster,' ending silent holds, putting the onus on the minority party to produce 40 votes, and lowering the cloture vote threshold to bring bills to a final up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.” 
Illinois Legislative Update
League and Citizen advocacy make a difference
The League's calls for action in support of legislation have an impact. The following League-supported bills have either been signed into law or are awaiting Governor Pritzker’s signature.
  • HB88 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Eligibility After Drug Offense
  • HB119 Prescription Drug Repository
  • HB449 Housing is Recovery Pilot Program (signed into law): paying rental assistance for people with serious mental illness
  • HB2595 Mental Health Insurance: requires insurers to cover medically necessary mental health and addiction care
  • HB2784 Mental Health Emergency Services: permits 911 operators to send non-police support for individuals who are experiencing mental health crises
  • HB3513 Humane Treatment for Incarcerated Juveniles
  • HB3665 Medical Release from Prison: early release if medical incapacity or terminal illness
  • SB64 Restorative Justice for Juveniles (signed into law)
  • SB667 Illinois Way Forward: ends ICE contracts that allow detention in county or local police facilities
  • SB818 Responsible Education for Adolescent and Children’s Health
  • SB825 Election Omnibus Bill (signed into law): delayed primary until June 28 and made voting more accessible
  • SB1840 Hospital Financial Assistance Transparency: nonprofit hospitals held accountable for free care they are obliged to provide
  • SB2800 Budget Items (signed into law): included Evidence-Based Funding for Education and Budget Priorities: Closing Corporate Loopholes 

The Clean Energy Jobs Act (HB804) has not passed yet. Legislators have shown a willingness to take up new versions of the bill this summer. 
Women's Rights Convention Days in Seneca Falls
July 16-18
Join the Women's Rights National Historical Park in celebration of the anniversary of the revolutionary 1848 Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention.

This annual event, focusing on the history of women’s suffrage through art, storytelling, speakers and special programming, will be held virtually this year, with a focus on how women’s writing in the first wave of the women’s rights movement translated into powerful activism and real social change.

There is no registration required. Check out the schedule and plan to attend. All events will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
LWVIL Welcomes 2021-2023 Board of Directors
The League of Women Voters of Illinois welcomes new board members Laurie Rose (Vice President, Governance), Roberta Borrino, Melissa Lieb and Sara Kurensky for the 2021-2023 term.

New members join continuing board members Allyson Haut (President), Jenny Grochowski (Treasurer), Cate Williams (Secretary), Rosemary Heilemann (Vice President, Issues and Advocacy), Kathy Kenny (Vice President, Voter Service) and Jean Pierce.

LWVIL is grateful for the outstanding leadership and dedication of the board members who are retiring from the board: Jan Dorner (Vice President, Voter Service), Barbara Sturges (Treasurer), Barbara Hayes and Siobhan Greene. These women have made generous gifts of their talent and time which are immeasurable and irreplaceable. The League is better and stronger because of them. Thank you all.

Find more information about current board members on the LWVIL website. 
Stay up to date!
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Local League Educational Events
Local Leagues regularly host virtual events related to both voter education and action on issues.Events are open to the public. See what's coming up on the LWVIL calendar.
Thank you for supporting our work to defend democracy and empower voters.