Fair Maps:
Gerrymandering must end! When districts are drawn with bias, political or any other kind, certain groups of people are often not allowed to have their voices heard in an equal manner. When you look at the map in Illinois, and other states across the nation, you will see incredibly strange shapes appear. Trying to include certain amounts of the population to overcome the amount of opposing views is a stain on our democracy. I propose we have independent organizations draw fair and appropriate maps for our future elections to ensure the most accurate maps available, and end gerrymandering once and for all.
Voting rights:
We believe we should institute automatic voter registration. If you are 18 years of age, and a citizen of Illinois, you should be automatically eligible to vote, end of story. This would ensure that all of our citizens that are able to vote can. As soon as a person becomes the proper age to vote, they should be able to exercise the most basic of rights and be able to vote. We should ensure that all of our citizens can vote as easily as possible.
We also believe we should make voting day a state-wide holiday, or move it to a Saturday. This would give our working class a better opportunity to make it to the polls. Instead of trying to wake up early and navigate child care to get to the polls before going off to work, or trying to run to the ballot box after work, but before the polls close. People should be able to get out and vote at a time that works for them. Making voting day a day off from work allows citizens to make arrangements, or even bring their families with them to vote, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
An update our voting practices should be a high priority for our state. We need to bring voting into the 21st century and create the most accurate and safe voting practices possible. We need to protect our democracy from outside interference and ensure an accurate election for the people of our state. Investigating new ways to vote should also be a priority for our elected officials. Rank Choice Voting would be a way for the best possible candidate to be the representative.
Campaign finance:
Getting big money out of politics is essential in making the voices of ordinary citizens to be heard. The disastrous Citizens United decisions has allowed billions of dollars to flow into our elections, and we need to make our elections free from unlimited money coming from Super PACS. We need to make sure our elections are decided by and for the people, not corporations. Illinois should lead the way in managing campaign funding and making sure what elects our leaders is our people, not the money donated by small numbers of wealthy groups and individuals.
Ballot Access:
Everyone in Illinois should have the same ability and requirements to get on the ballot. Currently Illinois laws skew the process to be much easier for Democrats and Republicans to get their names on the ballot. This often excludes candidates that do not want to run in one of the two traditional parties. For instance, in District 91, a candidate from one of the two main parties needs only 500 signatures to get their name on the primary ballot for the Illinois House. However, an independent candidate, or new party candidate would need 5% of the previous election’s voter turnout to gain access, or in this case, 1,816 to 2,905 signatures for the 2020 election cycle. It is our belief that everyone should have the same requirements and ability to represent their district whether they are part of the Democratic, Republican, or any other party.
Gerrymandering must end! When districts are drawn with bias, political or any other kind, certain groups of people are often not allowed to have their voices heard in an equal manner. When you look at the map in Illinois, and other states across the nation, you will see incredibly strange shapes appear. Trying to include certain amounts of the population to overcome the amount of opposing views is a stain on our democracy. I propose we have independent organizations draw fair and appropriate maps for our future elections to ensure the most accurate maps available, and end gerrymandering once and for all.
Voting rights:
We believe we should institute automatic voter registration. If you are 18 years of age, and a citizen of Illinois, you should be automatically eligible to vote, end of story. This would ensure that all of our citizens that are able to vote can. As soon as a person becomes the proper age to vote, they should be able to exercise the most basic of rights and be able to vote. We should ensure that all of our citizens can vote as easily as possible.
We also believe we should make voting day a state-wide holiday, or move it to a Saturday. This would give our working class a better opportunity to make it to the polls. Instead of trying to wake up early and navigate child care to get to the polls before going off to work, or trying to run to the ballot box after work, but before the polls close. People should be able to get out and vote at a time that works for them. Making voting day a day off from work allows citizens to make arrangements, or even bring their families with them to vote, ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to make their voices heard.
An update our voting practices should be a high priority for our state. We need to bring voting into the 21st century and create the most accurate and safe voting practices possible. We need to protect our democracy from outside interference and ensure an accurate election for the people of our state. Investigating new ways to vote should also be a priority for our elected officials. Rank Choice Voting would be a way for the best possible candidate to be the representative.
Campaign finance:
Getting big money out of politics is essential in making the voices of ordinary citizens to be heard. The disastrous Citizens United decisions has allowed billions of dollars to flow into our elections, and we need to make our elections free from unlimited money coming from Super PACS. We need to make sure our elections are decided by and for the people, not corporations. Illinois should lead the way in managing campaign funding and making sure what elects our leaders is our people, not the money donated by small numbers of wealthy groups and individuals.
Ballot Access:
Everyone in Illinois should have the same ability and requirements to get on the ballot. Currently Illinois laws skew the process to be much easier for Democrats and Republicans to get their names on the ballot. This often excludes candidates that do not want to run in one of the two traditional parties. For instance, in District 91, a candidate from one of the two main parties needs only 500 signatures to get their name on the primary ballot for the Illinois House. However, an independent candidate, or new party candidate would need 5% of the previous election’s voter turnout to gain access, or in this case, 1,816 to 2,905 signatures for the 2020 election cycle. It is our belief that everyone should have the same requirements and ability to represent their district whether they are part of the Democratic, Republican, or any other party.