Newsletter Highlights
Voting and Candidate Information: VOTE411 and LWVIL Candidate Forums for Senate
Register for Forest Preserve talk on the transformation of the Somme Woods in Northbrook Feb. 12
Request Your Mail In Ballot for the March Primary
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But however close we sometimes seem to that dark and final abyss, let no man of peace and freedom despair.
For he does not stand alone.
President John F. Kennedy 1961
| | March 17 2026 Primary Election Information | |
LWVIL to Sponsor Senate Candidate Forums
(Check your local listings)
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Democratic Party
January 29 7:00 pm Livestream on ABC7Chicago.com and univision.com/localchicago-wgbo
January 30 10:30 pm Replay ABC Channel 7
January 31 4:00 pm Replay Univision Channel
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Republican Party
February 11 7:00 pm Livestream on ABC7Chicago.com and univision.com/localchicago-wgbo
February 13 10:30 pm Replay ABC Channel 7
February 14 4:00 pm Replay Univision Channel
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BE INFORMED AND VOTE
Go to Vote411.org
VOTE411 has the information on how to register to vote, where to vote, the candidates, and the candidates' positions.
The Cook County League’s Voter Service Committee
is responsible for obtaining candidate information and responses
to League questionnaires for the Cook County and MWRD candidates.
Expected publication of this information by Feb. 5.
Subsequent candidate responses will be added when received.
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Help Make Democracy Work: Be a Poll Worker on Election Day
These are paid positions.
To volunteer for suburban precincts go HERE
To volunteer for Chicago precincts go HERE
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Are You Registered to Vote?
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Thru Feb 17: via mail-in or by deputy registrar
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Thru March 1: online with State Board of Elections at www.ova.elections.il.gov
- Must have an Illinois State ID or driver's license
- Can also register during Early Voting and on Election Day
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Candidates and Key Dates on the
LWVCC Voter Information Page
View the candidate lists for the Cook County and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District HERE.
Although the last challenges have been decided by the Cook County Electoral Board, further changes could be made if someone goes to court to override the Board's decision.
Continuously updated list is available on the County Clerk's Web Site
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Suburban Cook County Residents
Vote by Mail (and/or be on the Permanent Vote by Mail list) Apply by March 12.
See Suburban Cook Vote by Mail
Early Voting Feb. 18 - March 16 69 W. Washington pedway, Chicago, and the Suburban Courthouses, Melrose Park Village Hall
March 2 Expands to other locations
See Suburban Cook Early Voting
Election Day Voting 6am-7 pm
At your home precinct, Suburban Court Houses, and 69 W. Washington.
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Chicago Residents
Vote by Mail (and/or be on the Permanent Vote by Mail list) Apply by March 14.
See Chicago Vote By Mail
Early Voting Feb 12 - March 16 Chicago Board of Elections offices at 69 W. Washington, 6th floor and new Supersite at 137. S State
March 2. Expands to all 50 wards
See Chicago Early Voting.
Election Day Voting 6am-7 pm
At your home precinct, any early voting site, and 69 W. Washington.
| | | LWVCC Interest Groups keep members informed about important activities of our local government. | |
Upcoming Meetings
All Local League members are invited to participate in these interest group meetings
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Budget & Structure Mon. Jan 26, 10 am via Zoom
Criminal Justice Thurs., Jan. 29, 9 am via Zoom
Contact Jan Goldberg
Forest Preserve Wed., Feb. 4, 8:30 am via Zoom
Contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com
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Forest Preserve Interest Group
Nature is our Business
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Transforming Northbrook’s Somme Woods
Thursday, February 12, 2026 7pm
Speaker: Christos Economou, Forest Preserve Steward
Register by email at info@lwvcookcounty.org
Include your name, phone number, and Local League
Register by Tuesday February 10.
Zoom Link will be emailed to you on February 11
Forest Preserve Steward Christos Economou will describe how volunteers transformed degraded land in Northbrook into some of the finest tallgrass prairie, savanna, and woodland ecosystems in the region. Learn how volunteers restored the area into a thriving habitat teeming with endangered animals and plants. He will also discuss plans for restoring additional land.
Other News:
- If a polling place is in the FP, by election law, yard signs can be anywhere in the forest preserve outside of the 100 feet restriction. FP is working to adapt the election law to limit yard signs to 100 - 500 feet from the polling place.
- Pesticide Licensing change regarding training. Recent legislation passed the Illinois house and is now in the Senate adjusting training for large scale and small scale applications of pesticides.
Next Meeting Wed., Feb. 4, 2026 8:30 am via Zoom. To participate contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com
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Budget and Structure Interest Group
We Learn, We Report, We Make a Difference
| | Cook County Board Changes Times for Meetings | | |
At the urging of the Cook County League, the Cook County Board has changed its meeting times for 2026. The regular business meeting of the Board will now start on designated Thursdays at 9 am. The meeting for the Consent Calendar, which involves honoring or remembering people or events, will follow at a designated start time of 11 am.
The League had previously lobbied Board members to place the Consent Calendar into a separate meeting so that dealing with these items would not unduly delay the Board dealing with the business items. In response to the League’s recommendations, the Board in early 2025 established a separate meeting for the Consent Calendar to begin at 9 am and last no longer than 60 minutes, which would result in the regular business meeting of the Board starting at the designated time of 10 am.
That was the concept. The League monitored what actually happened. Often, the Consent Calendar meeting started well after 9 am and regularly lasted 90 minutes or more. As a result, the business meeting was starting at 11 am or later, rather than 10, in all but one month. So the League went back to the Board members and recommended that there be another change. The goal was to enable the business meeting to start on time so that the public and other County officials and staff would not be unduly waiting.
The League sent both a letter and spoke at the December business Board meeting thanking the President and Commissioners for making this new change. Of course, the League will be watching to see what actually occurs.
| | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District | |
MWRD Environmental Town Hall
Wed. Jan 21, 12:00- 1:00 via Zoom
Lead, Flooding, Resilience
Moderator: Eira L. Corral Sepulveda MWRD Commissioner
Register Here
Learn about coordinated, practical solutions for lead-free homes, clean water, and flood-resilient neighborhoods in Cook County
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The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District [MWRD] closed out 2025 adopting a $1.8 billion dollar budget to continue its work of cleaning and protecting our water and our waterways. Its stormwater budget was decreased, but the District is increasing its capital budget support for sewer upgrades and replacement. The MWRD serves 5.19 million people living in Chicago and another 128 surrounding municipalities. Its focus in 2026 will be on clean water and its uses, but also pollutants that need to be reduced or eliminated such as PFAS chemicals and phosphorus, climate resilience, and its own improvements to aging infrastructure and equipment.
To learn more about the MWRD and its many diverse projects to help the environment, such as the Space to Grow schoolyards program, its three planting efforts, removal of debris from waterway, and oxygen surveys to protect aquatic life and water quality go to the MWRD Website.
Within the League, the County Board has seven dedicated observers that cover 22 bi-weekly board meetings throughout the year. In 2026 an Independent Inspector General Office will be established in house. We have lobbied for this since May of 2017 when the District decided to enter into a working agreement with the County. Now it is going to happen, and we will be monitoring the process.
Like all of our observer groups, we concentrate on government process, transparency, and ethics in our observer reports; but we also cover important issues facing the MWRD such as water usage by the new Data Processing Centers being opened in our state. It is fascinating and fun to both learn and follow commissioners as they pursue support for their priorities. Come join our observer team and help make a difference.
| | Criminal Justice Interest Group | | |
- We have a meeting with the new Chief Judge of Cook County, Judge Beach on Jan 27 at the Daley Center.
- The Chicago murder rate is down 30% since the same period last year. It is the lowest rate since 1965. Shootings are down 35%.
- We are particularly concerned with a new program called "Felony Bypass". This program allows police officers to bypass a review of their reports in gun cases These reviews are usually done by state's attorneys who then decide if there is enough evidence to go to court.
- SAO Burke is starting a new program to divert juveniles from incarceration to programs that deal with mental health, substance abuse, etc.
- Electronic Monitoring may come under the direction of the State Office of Pretrial Services.
- New State Laws include the Clean Slate Act and the FAIR Act. The 1st seals records of released inmates (with some exceptions) from potential employers or landlords. The 2nd one is a statewide public defender office.
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Our next regular meeting will be Thursday, Jan 29, 9 am via zoom.
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To participate in this meeting, please contact Jan Goldberg
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LWVCC members observe and report on board and committee meetings of Cook County government entities to keep you informed.
To read more: LWVCC Observer Reports
| | | | Needed: Cook County Observers | | |
If you have resolved to get more involved in 2026, consider joining the Cook County Observer Corps.
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What: You will select a Cook County Board Committee to observe when it meets and write reports for posting on the Cook County League web site. See this page for past reports.
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Why: This is a great way to learn what Cook County government does, what the issues are, and who the elected officials and staff are who run this $10 Billion government. Often our observer reports are the only way for the public to know what is going on at Cook County government. League members use these reports to identify where League action is needed. County officials are well aware that the League is watching.
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When: Some Committees meet every month and some only periodically.
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Where: You can observe in person at the County building OR at home through live streaming OR via video after the fact.
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How much time: We try to have multiple observers for each Committee, so you and your partners will determine who will be observing and reporting in any given month. Meetings can run from a few minutes to several hours, which varies each time.
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Want to learn more: Send an email to the League at info@lwvcookcounty.org
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Who: hopefully you!
Other ways to get involved (contact info@lwvcookcounty.org) :
- Become an observer for the Boards of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District or the Cook County Forest Preserve District
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Join one of the Interest Groups: Budget & Structure (focusing on Cook County and the MWRD governments); Criminal Justice; Forest Preserve
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Join the Voter Service Committee
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Illinois Deserves Fair Maps
Join the Petition Drive--Go to LWVIL Fair Maps Illinois for petitions and details. Petitions are due in April.
The League of Women Voters of Illinois is endorsing the latest effort by Fair Maps Illinois to amend the state Constitution and move Illinois a step closer to having legislative districts that reflect our voting population. The amendment will apply to State Senate and Representative Districts, not Federal Congressional Districts.
What will be different:
- The redistricting commission will be made up 4 legislators and 8 non legislators.
- Districts will be drawn to follow county, municipal and township boundaries as much as possible
- Bans the use of political party affiliation or voting history when drawing districts.
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League of Women Voters of LaGrange Area members joined about 800 people in a silent vigil/march in LaGrange on Sunday, Jan. 11. The march protested the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week. Organizers read the names of 32 people who died in ICE custody last year -- its deadliest year in two decades -- followed by a sing-along of "This Land Is Your Land." Protesters then marched along downtown sidewalks silently, with signs like "ICE OUT FOR GOOD," "ACCOUNTABILITY NOW," "RESIST" amplifying the sorrow and outrage. Thanks to Indivisible West Suburban Chicago for organizing.
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Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, 12:00 pm Via Zoom
LWVIL
VOTING Local, State and Federal: What has not changed, what has changed, and questions.
Speaker: Matt Dietrich, IL State Board of Elections
Register HERE
Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, 6:30 pm In person
LWV Oak Park River Forest
Drinks & Dialogue Constitutional Law
Speaker: Steven Schwinn, Professor UIC School of Law
Friendly Tap
6731 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL
Free and open to the public
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, 9:30 am In person
LWV Oak Park River Forest
Coffee & Conversation Update from the Greater Food Depository
Nineteenth Century Club
178 Forest Ave
Oak Park, IL
Free and open to the public
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, 7:00 m In person
LWV LaGrange Area and LaGrange Public Library
Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region
Speaker: Debra Shore, former Regional Administrator U.S. EPA Region 5
LaGrange Public Library
10 W. Cossitt Ave.
LaGrange, IL
Free and open to the public, Registration requested HERE
Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, 10:00 am In person
LWV Palos Orland Area
Betsey Means as Juliette Kinzie, Wife of John Kinzie, a Founder of the City of Chicago
Palos Heights Public Library
12501 S. 71st St.
Palos Heights, IL
Free and open the public, no registration required.
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7:00 pm In person and on Zoom
LWV of the Palatine, Barrington, and Schaumburg Areas
A Look at the Board of Elections
Speaker: Edmund Michalowski, Deputy Clerk of Elections, Cook County
Schaumburg Central Library,
130 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
Registration is required. Register HERE
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2025-2026 Cook County League Board Members
OFFICERS: President: Diane Edmundson, Chicago; Vice-President, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Vice-President, Susan Gregory, Glenview-Glencoe; Secretary: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Treasurer: Trudy Turner, Evanston.
Board members: Victoria Cerinich, Palos-Orland Park Area; Laura Davis, Palatine, Barrington & Schaumburg Areas; Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area ; Betty Hayford, Evanston; Pris Mims, Chicago; Sandra Slayton, Homewood-Flossmoor
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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
lwvcookcounty.org
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