Newsletter - February 2022

2022 Gubernatorial Election Information

Primary Election June 28

In this election the voters will determine who the party candidates will be who will run in the November 8 Gubernatorial Election.

In addition to candidates for federal and state offices and judicial positions, the following Cook County Government and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District offices are up for election.

Cook County

President
All 17 Board Commissioners - from newly drawn districts
All 3 Board of Review Commissioner - from newly drawn districts
Assessor
County Clerk
Sheriff
Treasurer

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

3 Commissioners for 6 year terms on the board
1 Position to serve the remaining 2 years of the board position vacated by Debra Shore who was appointed EPA Administrator for the 6 state region headquartered in Chicago.

All candidates for the June 28 Primary began circulating nomination petitions on January 13. Candidates for established political parties may file completed petitions between March 7-14.

Important Dates for June 28 Primary Election

3/30/2022 First Day to Apply for a Mail Ballot

5/31/2022 Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials

6/12/2022 Last day to register to vote by online application

6/13/2022 First day of early voting

6/23/2022 Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters

6/27/2022 Last day of early voting

6/28/2022 Last day mail ballots can be postmarked

6/28/2022 Election Day

Vote in person at your local Polling Place

To Register to Vote Online click here

For further information on Voting:

Suburban Cook County Residents click here

City of Chicago Residents click here

Redistricting Maps for Suburban Cook County can be found on the

Cook County Clerk's Website

These maps do not provide street level detail but do provide a general idea of the new district configurations.

Redistricting Maps for the City of Chicago can be found on the

City of Chicago Board of Elections Website

Cook County Forest Preserve Referendum

At their December 14, 2021 meeting the Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the final language for the Tax Rate Increase Referendum to be voted on in the November Gubernatorial Election. As the Forest Preserve District is not a home rule government, approval from voters is required to increase the tax rate. The proposal is to raise the district’s tax levy by 0.025 percentage points. If approved this would increase taxes on a home assessed at $250,000 by about $20.00/year and would go into effect in 2023. The increased revenue is estimated to be about $44M and would allow the district to support the Next Century Conservation Plan of the district. The Plan includes restoration of existing preserves and making the preserves more accessible.

Interested in Learning More

LWVCC has a Forest Preserve Interest Group that will be developing a program to educate residents on the benefits and needs of our forest preserves. If you are interested in working on this project send an email to [email protected]

Cook County Forest Preserve Tax Referendum will be on

November Gubernatorial

Election Ballot

MWRD Flood Water Management

LWVCC has been following the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board for the past several years and is now initiating a project to educate local leagues and their communities on the basics of flood control. The project will be led by Laurie Morse (LWV Glenview/Glencoe) and Georgia Gebhardt (LWV Wilmette). The plan for the project is to develop a Primer for local Leagues and communities within Cook County on what the MWRD is doing for Flood Control and what they can do within their League and community.

If you would like to work on this project email [email protected]

Recent LWVCC Actions

December 2021

LWVCC sent a letter to the Cook County Board supporting the Cook County Clerk's proposal to reduce the number of voting precincts in suburban Cook County by merging precincts that vote in the same location. The consolidation of precincts should make the voting process more efficient, requiring fewer judges and less equipment, and saving the County money. The process should also be better for voters as polling places should not change, and there should be less confusion about which precinct they are in.

January 2022

LWVCC sent a letter to County officials urging them to establish up front expectations and performance measures when considering the programs to receive funding from the County's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The County has $1B in ARPA funds that will be expended over the next 3 years.

For more information on LWVCC Actions/Testimony

Upcoming Events

LWV Evanston Program

Erie Family Health Centers: Health Equity and Access

February 17, 2022 at 7 pm

For more information and to register for the zoom link click here

LWVCC Annual Meeting will be held in May

Details pending
Suggestions for nominations to the board, bylaws amendments, and/or program suggestions may be submitted to [email protected] and they will be referred to the proper committee.

2021-2022 Cook County League Board Members

OFFICERS: President: Cynthia Schilsky, LaGrange Area; Vice-Presidents: Pris Mims, Chicago, Karin Hribar, Arlington Heights; Secretary: Betty Hayford, Evanston; Treasurer: Nancy Clark, Oak Park/River Forest.

Board members: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Laura Davis, Palatine; Diane Edmundson, Park Ridge; Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Georgia Gebhardt, Wilmette;

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government; to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.

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League of Women Voters of Cook County

332 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 634, Chicago, IL 60604

312-939-5935 x127

lwvcookcounty.org