On September 19, almost 40 people attended our Fall Kickoff and heard an interesting presentation and lively discussion about two new, prospective voting systems: ranked choice voting and final five voting. Andrew Szilva of Fair Vote Illinois and Sylvie Doppelt of The Institute for Political Innovation gave stimulating, informative presentations. If you'd like more information, go to their respective websites, FairVote Illinois  and Political Innovation. For an in-depth explanation of the failings of our current duopoly political system and a proposal to improve elections, read the book, The Politics Industry, How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy by Katherine M. Gehl and Michael E. Porter. 

The Illinois Invest in Kids school voucher program diverts up to $75 million from public education and sends public dollars to unaccountable, untransparent private schools, while over 80% of our public schools in Illinois are underfunded.

All children deserve access to a good public education. Public dollars should be used to support public schools, which open their doors to all kids without discriminating on the basis of religion, disability status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Invest in Kids diverts scarce state funding, thereby undermining resources for public education, a cornerstone of democracy. The state’s 874,000 low-income students are especially harmed by the public school funding shortfall.

The Invest in Kids Act, passed in 2017, contains a sunset date of January 2025. The fall veto session is the last opportunity for the Illinois legislature to preserve this program. Your legislators need to hear now that the program must end.

For more information, register to attend LWV Illinois' webinar, “Why We're Fighting School Vouchers,” on Tuesday, September 26 at 6:00pm.  Invite your friends and neighbors to learn more about this vital issue for our public schools.

Do you belong to organizations where you could post a flyer about voter registration? How about a church bulletin board? Or your condo/townhouse bulletin board? Maybe your favorite coffee house? Then you should consider printing this flyer. It has a QR code that takes you directly to the State Board of Elections where you can check your voter registration or register to vote online. Don't have a printer? Then contact Peggy Kell and a flyer (how about two or three?) will be dropped off at your residence. This small step spreads the word about voter registration.

Kick off Banned Books Week 2023 by celebrating your right to read with a fun afternoon at the Forest Park Library! This all-ages event is a chance for family and friends to have fun while proudly speaking up for all readers: Forest Park Reads!

Beginning at 2:00pm on Sunday, October 1, the Library will have stations for button making, sign making, a Blackout Poetry station, a photo booth, as well as the Banned Books Read-a-Loud room. The Library will also host a Zurro Churro food truck for attendees beginning at 2:00pm. A rally will begin at 3:30pm and feature Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, IL Speaker of the House Chris Welch, and EveryLibrary Executive Director John Chastra. Check out the flyer here and sign up for this free event here.

LWV Cook County Forest Preserve Interest Group is sponsoring an opportunity to visit the Cook County Forest Preserves' Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 Paxton Ave., South Holland on Tuesday, September 26, from 10:30am-12:30pm. There will be two options for a guided nature walk on the Lost Beach Trail: a short one-mile walk or the option to complete the trail which is close to two miles. Register by email at [email protected]. Please include your name, phone number, and local league. Limited to 20 people. Directions and specific information for the visit will be provided when you register.

On Friday, September 29, from 4:00-6:00pm, the League of Women Voters of Illinois invites you to the kickoff reception for their Campaign to Safeguard Democracy. The reception will include the official opening of the early 1900s safe that belonged to the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association (IESA), the predecessor of LWV IL. This historic safe has been locked for over 40 years, and its contents are a mystery. What is in the safe? LWV IL has hired a professional safecracker to open the safe during this event, so we will find out together. The reception includes refreshments, and a donation of $40 is requested. Please register to attend the reception in person as capacity is limited. The event will also be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/LWVofIllinois; no registration is necessary to view the livestream.

On September 18, the Pretrial Fairness Act went into effect, making Illinois the first state to abolish money bond and marking a historic step toward addressing mass incarceration. Cash bond will no longer be an option for the Illinois Courts. There will be a separate hearing to determine whether the defendant should be released or held in custody for flight risk or danger to the community. In collaboration with the Civic Federation, LWV members will begin to observe Cook County bond court hearings and report back on specific information. Anyone who is interested in observing either at Leighton Court, 26th and California, or at the Maywood courthouse should contact Beverly Graham for further information. Training will be available but is not required.

Mark Your Calendars!

October 10, Second Tuesday, 9:30-11:00am, Oak Park Library, "Should the Electoral College be Eliminated?"

October 19, Drinks & Dialogue, 6:30-8:00pm. Friendly Tap, 6377 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, "Civility in Political Discourse"

November 14, Second Tuesday, 9:30-11:00am, Oak Park Library, "National Popular Vote for Presidential Elections"

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