Letter from the President, September 2020
Dear League members and friends of the League,
In a recent reflection upon her oft repeated statement “ … human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all ”, Secretary Hilary Rodham Clinton noted “Rights are important, but they are nothing without the power to claim them.”  

As our November 2020 election approaches, we have before us an important opportunity. We can exercise our constitutional right to vote. We can use our voice, we can each have power in claiming the rights that every single person deserves and should be guaranteed. 

Our League of Women Voters of Illinois mission has never been more important. In the face of the pandemic and voter suppression, we are working overtime to ensure the following in Illinois: 
  • Everyone who is eligible to vote is registered to vote 
  • Voters have access to nonpartisan information on candidates, races and ballot issues
  • Voters understand their options for early voting, voting by mail and voting in person
  • Voters make a plan to vote in this election

Equally important is funding the tools and initiatives we need to expand voter education opportunities and pave the way for access to the ballot for disenfranchised groups.

Your participation in Power the Vote could be the difference—your donations will help another person get registered, learn how to vote, use their voice, claim their seat at the table. Be a part of the LWVIL’s second century. 

Mask up, be safe, stay well.
President
League of Women Voters of Illinois 
Special guest for Power the Vote confirmed an hour ago!

Valerie Jarrett
Board Chair, When We All Vote and Co-Chair, United State of Women
Thursday, September 24
Noon to 1:00 pm 
Celebrating our Centennial, Envisioning our Future.
A virtual gathering to benefit the League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund

As we enter the final weeks leading to the 2020 election, the effect of living in the shadow of COVID-19 is disturbingly clear.

  • An unprecedented number of requests for vote-by-mail ballots threatens to overwhelm the already unsupported US Postal Service.
  • Pollworkers, traditionally found in populations 60 and over, are in short supply and needed more than ever, as early voting sites are expanded to allow for social distancing.
  • The equity of healthcare, education and social services in all of our communities is obviously and grossly uneven. Ballot access is not guaranteed for all. 

LWVIL’s response is, as it has been for the past century, to educate, engage and empower the electorate. We are here to Power the Vote.

Now, more than ever, it is time for everyone to take part and make a difference. You can start by supporting our annual benefit. For only $25 (although we hope you will donate more) you can be inspired by our dynamic speakers AND help fund:

  • Our online voter information resource, IllinoisVoterGuide.org
  • Virtual platform access for Candidate Forums 
  • Initiatives to activate young voters, engage persons in pretrial detention 
  • Ongoing support of legislation for equitable healthcare, education and social services

Please join us and give generously. Help support LWVIL’s commitment to defending equity, access, respect and humanity for all. We all have work to do.
USPS Advice for Voting by Mail
More than 100 people heard directly from United States Postal Service representatives during our Vote By Mail webinar on August 26.

The USPS representatives encouraged webinar attendees to help “flatten the Vote by Mail curve” by returning their ballots as soon as possible after receiving them.
The USPS advises the following:

  • Apply for your vote by mail ballot as soon as possible, either online, in person or by downloading the application and mailing it in. Legally, you can request a VBM ballot through October 29, but waiting is strongly discouraged. 
  • Be sure to sign up for ballot tracking if it is offered by your local election authority.
  • Ballots will be mailed out after September 24. Try to mail them back at least two weeks prior to election day.
  • In Illinois, all ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted.
  • If you change your mind about voting by mail after you have received your ballot, or if your ballot does not arrive in time, you may still vote in person.

Find information about applying for a ballot at illinoisvoterguide.org.
Illinois Voter Guide Goes Live September 16
This online voter resource, powered by LWVIL, brings you the 100% nonpartisan election information you need. Go to Illinois Voter Guide to register to vote, check your voter registration, request a vote by mail ballot, research your candidates, find your polling place and make a plan to vote!
Election Workers Needed
Concerns about COVID-19 have resulted in a shortage of election judges and poll workers. Many more are needed for early voting dates, election day and post election dates through November 17. In Illinois, poll workers can earn up to $200/day or more, and the new 2020 election law allows those 16 years and older to work. Contact your election authority now to sign up and be trained.
Vote for a Fair Tax
The League of Women Voters has supported a graduated income tax for the past five decades as a path to equitable and adequate funding for education, health, human services for all communities.

Voting YES for the Constitutional Amendment on the ballot this fall means you agree income should be taxed at a graduated rate in Illinois. This is the system used by both the majority of other states and the Internal Revenue System.

A Fair Tax would raise taxes on the only segment of society which has seen an increase in income in recent decades – those earning more than $250,000. The remaining 97% of taxpayers would see either a tax cut or no change in their taxes. How will the fair tax affect you? Use this calculator to find out.

Find further information here:
Fair Tax with Ralph Martire
September 17, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Is the Fair Tax a solution to Illinois budget woes? Hear from Ralph Martire, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, a bipartisan 501(c)(3) think tank. Martire will explain how the state got into an ongoing fiscal crisis, how that impacts Illinois residents, and what can be done about it. What impact could a Fair Tax have on the Illinois economy? Join our webinar to find out.
Census to End September 30, 2020
Although the Census calendar was extended due to COVID-19, the new timetable shortens the typical time frame by two months and raises concerns about a fair and accurate count.

Data collection is scheduled to end September 30, and must be reported to the Administration within three months. National response rates remain the lowest in history, which will impact policy and funding for the next decade.

The League of Women Voters joined Common Cause in letters to the Census Bureau and leadership in the US House and Senate, asking that the Census Bureau commit to continuing the count through October 31. The League has also joined in a California lawsuit challenging the shortened time frame.

Overall, the Illinois Census response rate is fairly high, yet there are pockets of low participation that will have a concerning impact on funding for under-counted populations for the next decade. For each person uncounted, Illinois will lose at least $1500 in federal funding every year until the next census. The state is on track to lose at least one Congressional seat, but an undercount could lead to the loss of an additional seat. Find out how your community is doing.

Help ensure a fair and accurate count by doing the following:
  • Complete the census
  • Remind 10 others to complete the census
  • Contact your local Complete Count Committee and volunteer
  • Share 2020 Census posts on social media
  • Ask your local leaders to do all of the above
National Votes for Women Trail
Our 100th Anniversary Committee has been instrumental in making sure that the National Votes for Women Trail highlights Illinois’ role in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

The trail, created by The National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites, will culminate in a nationwide online map of suffrage sites.

Among the 48 sites currently in Illinois, one in Oak Park honors Grace Wilbur Trout. Trout led the Illinois Suffrage Association to victory in Illinois in 1913 and again in 1920 using a parade, a car tour of Illinois, lobbying and raising money for the national effort.
50-Year Member to be Election Judge (again)
After more than 50 years as a League member, Hettie Beers knows a thing or two about the importance of voting. So when she wrote to Tazewell County asking to help with the election, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman happily agreed to swear the 93 year old in as an election judge. She will be a volunteer judge at the assisted living facility she calls home in Washington, IL.

Beers, a past president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria, has been involved in many local government issues. She has served as an election judge in numerous elections and admits that while important, “it is not very exciting.”

 “I hope she serves as an example for others,” Ackerman said. “Living a life volunteering to your community, giving back to your community, strengthening your community,” Ackerman said.
Election Dates to Remember
  • TODAY - Make a plan to vote
  • September 24 - First date to vote at your election authority
  • September 24 - Election authorities begin sending out vote by mail ballots
  • October 7 - Some early voting sites open for Suburban Cook County 
  • October 14 - Early voting begins in Chicago
  • October 18 - Last day to register to vote online. Registration allowed at voting sites through Nov. 3.
  • October 19 - Early voting begins in Illinois 
  • October 29 - Last day for election authorities to receive application to vote by mail (it is recommended that voters apply well ahead of this date)
  • November 3 - Election Day 
  • November 3 - Last day to turn in or postmark a vote by mail ballot 
Upcoming Events
The League of Women Voters Illinois Education Fund (LWVILEF) encourages the informed and active participation in government by providing civic education and voter services. Make a difference today for you and your community with a tax-deductible gift to support our work to defend democracy and empower voters.
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