Taking a ballot selfie is a felony in Illinois
Taking a ballot selfie is a felony in Illinois
Voters wanting to share their Election Day pride best not do it with a voting booth selfie posted to social media. That’s a felony in Illinois.
Expanded vote-by-mail could boost Illinois turnout by over 200,000 annually
Expanded vote-by-mail could boost Illinois turnout by over 200,000 annually
Expanding permanent vote-by-mail options to all eligible voters while retaining in-person voting would likely increase turnout without giving any political party an advantage.
Audit reveals Illinois lost nearly $2 billion to COVID-19 unemployment fraud
Audit reveals Illinois lost nearly $2 billion to COVID-19 unemployment fraud
A state audit found the Illinois Department of Employment Security lost to fraud more than half of the $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 dollars earmarked for out-of-work Illinoisans. The full scope of the unemployment fraud remains unknown.
Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo gets 57 months for bribery scheme
Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo gets 57 months for bribery scheme
The former Illinois House assistant majority leader now faces nearly 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting and soliciting bribes to expand sweepstakes gambling legislation in Springfield.
Chicago-area mayor guilty in red light camera bribery scheme
Chicago-area mayor guilty in red light camera bribery scheme
Oakbrook Terrace’s former mayor pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges related to red light cameras and faces up to five years in prison. The state recently shut off the cameras.
Madigan joked about ComEd bribes while in office
Madigan joked about ComEd bribes while in office
FBI recordings revealed new details about indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his scheme to exchange political favors for patronage appointments. He made a joke out of it.
Primary voting begins in Illinois: Here are how-tos, FAQs
Primary voting begins in Illinois: Here are how-tos, FAQs
May 19 was the start of voting for the June 28 primary for early in-person voting and for those who’ve requested mail-in ballots.
Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years
Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years
During the past decade, state lawmakers have asked to change the Illinois Constitution six times while voters have failed to get any changes on the ballot. In 52 years, Illinoisans have only gotten one amendment question before voters. That needs to change.
Want to fix Illinois’ voter suppression? Then give voters choices.
Want to fix Illinois’ voter suppression? Then give voters choices.
Voter suppression is an art in Illinois, where decades of rules to give incumbents or favored-party candidates an easy ride to reelection deny voters choices in about half of Illinois House races. Illinois Policy is trying to change that by increasing the choices that bring out voters.
2022 Illinois elections to be the most competitive in over 24 years
2022 Illinois elections to be the most competitive in over 24 years
With 82 statehouse races expected to be contested – the most in at least 24 years – the number of ballots cast could reach 4.3 million. That would be the highest non-presidential year figure in recent history.
Pritzker has governed using emergency powers for more than 65% of his term
Pritzker has governed using emergency powers for more than 65% of his term
Illinois has no mask mandate or requirements for showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination. So why is Gov. J.B. Pritzker still declaring a state of emergency and holding onto those powers?
Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices
Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices
Progressive voices decry voter suppression in states such as Texas, but the very blue state of Illinois is guilty of rampant voter suppression using a system of maps and rules that defeat many challengers before they ever get on the ballot. A new effort is working to change that.
Patricia Bonk
Patricia Bonk
“We must fix our state budget. Over 25% of the budget is pension payments, which is only going to get worse."
David Sheppard
David Sheppard
"I want to make sure the voices of the mental health community and those with illness are heard. In order to get access to the things that they need, they must be heard."