Voters' Guides

Political insiders have a name for it – “ballot fall off:” the tendency of voters to stop voting as they move down the ballot. Exit polls show that voters tend to be confident of their votes for statewide and federal offices, but as the districts get smaller, voters become less sure of themselves, and are less inclined to cast a vote. At the same time, candidates for state legislative offices and the lower courts have smaller campaign budgets and fewer resources to reach out to voters.

ICPR supports the creation a non-partisan, state-sponsored Voters' Guide, which would provide voters with vital information on candidates, registration, and using voting equipment. Nearly a dozen states and countless cities and counties around the country offer voters this sort of resource.

ICPR was pleased to staff the Illinois Voters Guide Task Force, a group co-chaired by Secretary of State Jesse White and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. The Task Force, with members drawn from business, labor, government, and academia, studied the issue closely and concluded that Illinois should pilot a voters’ guide in general elections.

In 2005, Illinios enacted law directing the State Board of Elections to post a limited voter's guide on-line in time for the 2006 general election. This guide will cover statewide candidates plus supreme & appellate court. While it will not include downticket contests like legislature, circuit court & county races, it represents a positive step forward. Look for the guide on the State Board of Elections website.

Also, please visit the Illinois Voters' Guide Web site. This site, sponsored by ICPR and Justice at Stake, offers a voters' guide to judicial candidates in the 2002 General Election.

View the report here (199kb PDF file).

Legislation

House: Voters' Guide Act, HB 2508
Synopsis: Provides that, when directed by resolution of the county board, the election authority of any county shall post on the Internet a county voters' guide for use at the consolidated election.

Sponsors: Harry Osterman

Senate: Voters' Guide Act, SB 1870
Synopsis: Requires the State Board of Elections to produce an Internet voters' guide before each general election containing (i) information as to statewide and certain other offices to be filled at the election, (ii) information on candidates for those offices, (iii) public questions to appear on the ballot, and (iv) voting information.

Sponsors: Dave Sullivan, Ira Silverstein

Press Releases

Voters' Guide Would Increase Awareness of Election Procedures and Candidates
ICPR Press Release, May 18, 2001

Voters Want More Information About Candidates
ICPR Press Release, November 9, 1999

Voters' Guide Task Force

Every household in Illinois should receive a voters' guide with information about the candidates running for public office and helpful explanations of how to register to vote and operate voting equipment.

The Voters' Guide Task Force was co-chaired by Secretary of State Jesse White and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, the Chair of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, convened the panel.

(From left) Former U.S. Senator Paul Simon, Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Secretary of State Jesse White, State Representative Mike Boland, State Senator Dave Sullivan.