March 2023

What better way to start Women’s History month than with the US Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on affirming ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment! If you haven’t had a chance, take a look at the hearing – it’s powerful.

You will be grateful to be represented by our own Senator Durbin and Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ben Cardin powerfully demonstrated that bipartisanship is alive and well. And college student Thursday Wiliiams spoke truth to power so eloquently that you can’t help but feel hope for our future. This is women’s history in the making!

Watch the hearing (Senator Durbin gavels in at 00:16:40)

Here at home you can be the difference by rallying support for House Joint Resolution 20 (HJR0020). This bill in the Illinois General Assembly affirms the ERA and calls for publication of our 28th Amendment. Please contact your legislators! Tell them you think the ERA belongs in our constitution – ask them to support HJR0020 and sign on as a co-sponsor.

In closing, I urge you to use your power this election season. Vote. Then hold people 

accountable – your friends, family and neighbors.  Ask them if they have voted, or when they plan to vote. Participating in democracy is our right and privilege. 

Allyson E. Haut, Ph.D.

President

League of Women Voters of Illinois

Fifty eight years ago this week, peaceful protesters on the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama were attacked by state troopers. The day, known as Bloody Sunday, led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 the following August. This defining moment in our nation's history is commemorated every year with a reenactment of that peopaceful march - as we voice our commitment to a nationally protected right to vote. Our democracy's survival demands that elections are free, fair, and accessible to all.

Local Elections Mean Voting POWER

Community Impact

Civic engagement is at the heart of local elections. Here is where those running for office are often, quite literally, the neighbors of those who will cast ballots for/against them; where the children of candidates go to school with the children of voters; and where the daily lives of both candidates and voters will be similarly affected by the election outcome.

Local elections affect the local infrastructure in ways that impact voters every single day – garbage pick-up, stop signs, water quality, street repairs, job development, fire departments, school boards, police funding – these are the purview of local governments.

Voters are more likely to speak with their local mayor, president, park district or school board member, than they are to meet the US President or their US Senator or Representative. And yet, voter turnout for local elections is usually low. Community members who do not vote are giving power to those who do vote.

It’s About the Numbers

Not only do voters have a greater likelihood of knowing their candidates in a local election, voters may actually have a greater impact at the ballot box in a local election. Why? Because instead of being one voter among hundreds of thousands, they are often one among hundreds. The numbers mean that even if everyone in the community votes, each vote weighs more than in a US presidential election.

Unfortunately, everyone does not usually vote. In fact, historical trends show local election voter turnout rates of 30% or less. A mere handful of votes can often mean the difference between winning or losing a local election.

All of this means that in a local election, there is a great opportunity for people who cast ballots to make sure their next officials reflect their viewpoints.

After the election

It’s still about the numbers. In local government, there are fewer constituents per official, which usually means that local officials are more responsive to public needs and opinions. People who engage with their local officials – by sending emails, making phone calls, letting them know what they want – are very likely to be heard.

Use your voice

Community engagement is ultimately an expression of democracy. Every day actions are votes for the kind of community you want to live in. 

Chicago Mayoral debate

Thursday, March 16, 7:00 pm

Mayoral runoff candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas will face each other in the ABC 7 studios in front of a live audience on March 16, in a debate using LWV of Illinois guidelines.

Continuing a decades-long relationship, the LWV of Illinois and LWV of Chicago are partnering with ABC7 and Univision for the 2023 Chicago mayoral debate. The League collaborates with ABC7 in crafting candidate invitations, establishing ground rules, creating candidate questions, and assisting in the studio with timing.

The commercial-free debate will stream live at 7:00pm on March 16 on abc7chicago.com, ABC7’s digital stream, and will air on the station’s digital channel 7.2. The debate will air on ABC7’s main channel on Friday, March 17 at 10:35pm as well as Sunday, March 19 at 4pm. The debate will be translated and will air live on Univision’s digital platforms and on Univision TV on a later date.

Candidate Forums

This spring, Local Leagues across the state are holding hundreds of forums for the consolidated elections, giving voters an opportunity to hear candidates’ unscripted responses to community questions.

Find forum times and dates on the LWV of Illinois website. Forums are held on zoom, in person, live streamed, and usually recorded, making them widely accessible. Candidate forum recordings, when available, are posted on the LWV of Illinois website and in the Illinois Voter Guide.

League forums are nonpartisan and equitable for all candidates. All forums are conducted using established guidelines and participating candidates sign an agreement regarding forum ground rules. Forum moderators are League-trained and reside outside the local district.

Check out the election calendar—early voting has begun!

Illinois General Assembly is in session. Make sure your legislators know what you want. Contact them today.

The 103rd Illinois General Assembly’s first session is underway and thousands of bills have been put forth in both the House and Senate.

Of those thousands, the LWV of Illinois will focus on bills that are aligned with our mission and positions. In particular, LWV of Illinois is working in coalition with other organizations in support of the following bills:

Education Funding

SB2006/HB2792 increases the minimum funding level for Illinois’ K-12 Evidence-Based Funding formula to $550 Million annually. See the fact sheet.

Equal Rights Amendment

HJR0020 – Affirms the Equal Rights Amendment, urges the Administration of President Biden to publish and certify ERA as the 28th Amendment and Congress to pass a joint resolution affirming the ERA as the 28th Amendment. Calls on other states to join in this action by passing the same or similar resolutions.

Housing Equity

HB1569/SB0242 – requires sealing a court file for an eviction if the case is dismissed, the tenant wins, etc.

HB2044/SB1737 – Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit Act, provides that owners of qualified low-income housing developments are eligible for credits against income taxes.

Juvenile Justice

HB2128 – Ends the automatic transfer of juvenile offenders to an adult court if they turn 18 before their case has been heard in a juvenile court.

HB2328 – Raises the age of pretrial detention to 14 years from 10 years.

HB2347 – Raises the age of incarceration to 14 years from 13 years.

Schools

SB90/HB2049 – Racism-Free Schools Act, introduced by Senator Laura Murphy and Representative Maurice West, to prevent and address racial harassment in schools. Representative West recently spoke about the bill during a session on racism in schools as part of the LWV of Illinois' annual Issues Briefing.

Voting Rights

HB2446 – Allows 16 year olds to pre-register to vote and be automatically registered when they become eligible to vote. Illinois law provides that 17 year olds can vote in a primary election providing they will be 18 at the time of the corresponding general election.