"There can be no divided democracy, no class government, no half-free county, under the constitution. Therefore, there can be no discrimination, no segregation, no separation of some citizens from the rights which belong to all. ... We are on our way. But these are frontiers which we must conquer. ... We must gain full equality in education ... in the franchise ... in economic opportunity, and full equality in the abundance of life." Mary McLeod Bethune, Chicago Defender, 1954.
| | February brings the League's birthday and Black History Month - both of which serve as celebrations of those on whose shoulders we stand and stark reminders of how much further we have to go. Let this month serve as an annual renewal of our commitment to work for a democracy where equal rights for all are a reality. | |
President
League of Women Voters of Illinois
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Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator, civil rights leader, and government official, was one of the 20th century's most important leaders.
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LWVIL’s annual Issues Briefing is your opportunity to take a deeper look at issues facing our state and find out about legislation currently being considered in the Illinois General Assembly.
Learn from legislators and nonpartisan experts during this full day of virtual programming brought to you on Zoom. Invite friends and neighbors! We all need to be informed and prepared to engage and advocate for what our communities need. Registration fees are waived for students, and complimentary tickets are available. Issues Briefing is for everyone.
Join the opening session on defending democracy against threats to elections. Then choose from sessions on racism in schools, juvenile justice, carbon capture/sequestration, housing, gun violence and reproductive rights. Close the day with a final session on using grassroots power to get a bill passed. Click below for complete session descriptions and speaker information.
| | It is time for the 28th Amendment. | |
Illinois is at the forefront of the work to make sure that the US Constitution provides equal protection under the law for all genders.
Last Tuesday, January 31, US legislators introduced a joint resolution in Congress, to remove the deadline for ratification of the ERA and recognize it as a part of the US Constitution.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is among those leading the push to make equality the law of the land. Not only is he among the resolution’s cosponsors, as Chair of the Judicial Committee he will hold a hearing on the issue and then urge the senate to pass the resolution. “Equal rights shouldn’t have to wait any longer,” says Durbin. “We have the power to do something about it.”
It is time. The ERA was first drafted in 1923 by suffragist Alice Paul, and was introduced in every session of Congress for the next 49 years. In 1972, it was approved by overwhelming majorities in both House and Senate, and sent to the states for ratification. The 38-state threshold needed to become part of the US Constitution proved elusive until in 2018, when Illinois became the 37th state to ratify, and Virginia became the 38th in a 2020.
However, the ERA has yet to be added to the Constitution. The bicameral resolution introduced this week would ensure the ERA’s place as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, finally guaranteeing equal protections under the law regardless of gender or sex.
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Here in Illinois, State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowtiz introduced a resolution affirming that the ERA has satisfied all constitutional requirements and is fully ratified. The resolution, HJR1, also calls on Congress and the White House to affirm ERA ratification.
| | It is time to end one hundred years without equal protection under the law. | | Yes, it's Election Season. Again. | | Find calendars for the February 28 and April 4 Consolidated Elections in the GOTV Toolbox on the LWVIL website For Members>League Resources page. Share on social media or print and post in your community. | |
Candidate information in Illinois Voter Guide
Candidate and ballot information is now available for the February 28 Consolidated Elections/Primaries and will be available in early March for the April 4 Consolidated Elections.
IllinoisVoterGuide.org will cover the following races for towns with with populations greater than 10,000: Mayor/President, Clerk, Treasurer, City Council/Alderpersons. Illinois Voter Guide will also cover all School Board Elections in the state.
Candidate profiles will include education, experience and background found on candidates’ websites and other internet sources. Candidate forum recordings will be uploaded where available from local Leagues.
Voters who go to IllinoisVoterGuide.org can always check their registration and register. As ballot information becomes available, voters can apply for a vote by mail ballot, see their ballot, find their dropbox location, and find when and where to vote.
| | LWVIL has tools to help you drive voter turnout. | |
Start by looking at the Illinois Voter Guide Materials page for IllinoisVoterGuide.org business cards. Carry them with you, hand them out at train stations and coffee shops, and share the images on social media.
- Check out the Get Out the Vote Idea Guide, designed to help all local Leagues energize and activate voters.
- Go to the GOTV Toolbox for downloadable LWVIL graphics for social media and printable items such as business cards, flyers, and yard signs.
| | Show your passion for voting! Use these handy graphics in emails or on social media and express your passion about the importance of everyone using their voice at the ballot box. Find downloadable graphics in the GOTV Toolbox on the LWVIL website For Members>League Resources page . | |
Bring a mock election to a school near you!
Most high school seniors will be 18 in time to vote in the April 4 Consolidated Election, which includes school board races. Help generate excitement and civic engagement by staging a mock election at school! LWVIL Voter Service has developed materials to get you started; find them in the GOTV Toolbox on the LWVIL website For Members>League Resources page.
| | The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Period. | |
The League is a highly respected resource for nonpartisan information, which can be hard to find during our hyper-partisan times! During election season, it is crucial that you and your League are staunch guardians of our nonpartisanship.
Avoid any appearance of bias:
- Make sure there is a clear separation between voter education and any advocacy or legislation education activities
- Voter education and advocacy should not take place at the same event
- League members may not advocate for, or mention, ballot items such as referenda in the vicinity of a forum venue
- Leagues should not schedule or promote meetings or education activities with any candidates for office, including any elected officials who are running for office
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When in doubt, err on the side of caution, and please reach out to voterservice@lwvil.org
| | Protect our respect. Make sure all League events are strictly nonpartisan. | |
New LWVIL Candidate Participation Policy
LWVIL has revised the Candidate Participation Policy for forums and voter guides. Please review it carefully before planning forums for Consolidated Elections. Notably, the new policy increases the allowable time for a candidate statement from 2 minutes to 3 minutes. Candidate statements are used in situations where a scheduled forum for two or more candidates must be canceled due to the Empty Chair Rule. Find the Candidate Participation Policy on the LWVIL website For Members>League Resources page under LWVIL Board Policies and also Candidate Forums.
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Another successful Mayoral debate for the books! LWVIL and LWV Chicago partnered with ABC7 and Univision to host all nine Chicago mayoral candidates on January 19.
For nearly three decades, LWVIL has partnered with ABC7 to hold televised debates for major mayoral, gubernatorial and congressional races.
The debates follow LWVIL standards and LWVIL collaborates in crafting candidate invitations, establishing ground rules, creating candidate questions, and assisting in the studio with timing.
The January 19 mayoral debate was live streamed by both ABC7 and Univision (with simultaneous translation) on their various media platforms. Both stations also broadcast the debate on Sunday, January 22: UNIMAS (WXFT-TV) at 4:00 pm, and ABC 7.1 at 10:30 pm. C-SPAN will air the debate in the near future at a time to be announced.
| | | Thank you to the 14 Leagues that responded to the LWVIL 2022 Voter Service Impact Survey! | | You helped voters in a variety of communities. | | You educated and activated using a variety of tools. | |
LWVIL Observer Training
Saturday, March 18
10:00–11:00 am
Strengthen your League's Observer Corps. The League’s trained Observer Corps are a respected part of our comunities—working to keep local governments accountable and community members informed.
Registration required. Members only. Registration closes 24 hours prior to the event. The event link will be sent a day in advance and one hour before the event.
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LWVIL Convention is coming!
Convention is when we come together to shape our upcoming biennium. Across the nation, state Leagues are gathering to determine the focus of their power—positions, advocacy resources, bylaws, budget, board—all decisions that impact mission work at the grassroots level.
LWVIL is looking forward to convening in a virtual space that will be accessible and inclusive for the voices of League members throughout the state. No matter where in the state you are, your League can be heard. Consider being a delegate for your League and watch for more information in coming months.
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Program Planning
Help chart the course for LWVIL advocacy in the coming biennium. What issues do you think should be prioritized? Make sure your voice is heard by participating in YOUR League's Program Planning process!
The LWVIL Issues and Advocacy committee uses local League Program Planning input to develop the state's advocacy priorities, or Program Foci, for the coming biennium. The state Program is one of the many items delegates will vote on during Convention.
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Ranked Choice Voting
Wednesday, February 8
7–8:30 pm
by LWV of Highland Park-Highwood
Mary Lou's Place: YWCA's Emergency Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence
Thursday, February 9
Noon–1:00 pm
by LWV of Evanston
| | Expand League impact, educate voters statewide | |
Zoom helps us take our work to all corners of Illinois. Expand your audience and elevate our mission to empower voters and defend democracy.
| | Thank you for supporting our work to defend democracy and empower voters. | | | | |
