Voter Empowerment

Illinois Senate Republicans’ voter empowerment package

The Senate Republican Caucus believes in putting the citizens of Illinois back in control of their government. Coined the Voter Empowerment Project, this legislative package includes four constitutional amendments, including taking the ability to draw legislative maps out of the hands of entrenched politicians, broadening the power of popular referendums to make changes to state government, instituting a strong recall provision to remove corrupt state and local officials, and creating a process where citizens can vote on whether to keep or throw out newly passed laws.

This package will empower voters by giving them a greater voice in their government and allow them to hold elected officials accountable.

SJRCA 13 SJRCA 14 SJRCA 15 SJRCA 16

SJRCA 13: INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING

Amends the constitution to require an independent redistricting commission. The chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and the most senior supreme court justice of the opposite party would jointly select 17 commissioners to service on the commission. The first redistricting would occur in 2023 and then after every subsequent federal decennial census.

SJRCA 14: VOTER-INITIATED AMENDMENTS

Empowers Illinois voters to initiate constitutional amendments on issues vital to the future of the state’s government, such as redistricting, taxation, political accountability, and other important constitutional amendments.

SJRCA 15: VOTER REFERENDUM TO REPEAL LAWS

Allows for voter-initiated referendums on recently enacted laws, granting voters the ability to overturn unpopular laws railroaded through the General Assembly without sufficient public input. If a referendum reached the requirements to be placed on a ballot the voters could then potentially vote down the legislation.

SJRCA 16: RECALL ELECTED OFFICIALS

Allows voters to recall elected officials including any executive branch officer, speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, the Auditor General, Members of the General Assembly and local government officials. Currently, only the Governor is subject to recall.