HR0122 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0122 LRB101 04920 MST 49929 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, During the 2018 Illinois General Primary, 7,945,074 Illinois residents were registered to vote, 26.48% of that number actually voted; and

WHEREAS, During the 2018 Illinois General Election, 8,099,372 Illinois residents were registered to vote, 57.23% of that number actually voted; and

WHEREAS, At least 22 states have provisions allowing certain elections to be conducted by mail; and

WHEREAS, As of January 2017, three of the 22 states - Oregon (2000), Washington (2011), and Colorado (2013) - hold all elections entirely by mail; and

WHEREAS, Voting by mail provides several advantages, including, but not limited to, conveniently providing voters the ability to vote from home, financial savings in areas where voting by mail can entirely replace traditional voting places, and improving voter turnout; and

WHEREAS, According to a study on Utah's 2016 general election, Utah experienced greater voter turnout in counties which administered voting entirely by mail compared to counties which administered traditional polling place-based voting; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has taken efforts to encourage greater voter participation through its 40-day early voting period, Automatic Voter Registration, and permitting any qualified voter to vote absentee without offering an excuse; however, as other states in the Union have demonstrated, Illinois can pursue more to achieve greater voter participation in its democratic process; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage increased investment and participation in vote by mail programs in order to achieve greater participation in our democracy and to better carry out our democratic ideals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Illinois Association of County Officials.