Working for Illinois Caucus

Mary Hansen

Democratic state lawmakers are pushing to make permanent many of the voting options Illinois piloted for the 2020 General Election last fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Illinois House last week approved extending the use of ballot drop boxes and curbside voting indefinitely. However, critics said the proposal could lead to election security issues.

State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is the chief sponsor of HB 1871. Stuart said extending these options will encourage voter participation during a time when other states are disenfranchising voters.

“It allows election authorities to continue to use secure, locked, tamper-proof drop boxes subject to rules set by the state board like daily ballot collection,” Stuart said. “It does not make them mandatory. The use of such is still up to the discretion of the local election authorities.”

Meanwhile, Republicans warned the proposal does not thoroughly standardize election security standards and practices statewide, and that the bill would improperly use federal funds.

“People’s concerns about election security are real,” State Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, said during House floor debate last week. “We need to make sure that everyone has the best access and the right to vote, but we must also make sure that our elections are totally secure.”

Republicans pointed out the proposal does not specify size requirements for drop boxes and posited particularly small drop boxes could be subject to theft. Additionally, Republicans voiced concern with the level of discretion local election authorities would be granted in determining curbside voter eligibility and ballot collection site placements.

State Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said such discretion could result in an election official designating a drop box site right outside Democratic or Republican campaign headquarters.

“I have very serious concerns about the locations that are appropriate and the monitoring and security of these drop boxes,” Spain said.

Republicans also took issue with federal Help America Vote Act funds being allocated to maintain ballot collection sites.

“HAVA funds can’t be used to purchase new drop boxes as those funds are only for election security,” Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said. “The drop boxes used in the 2020 General Election were purchased using CARES Act funding in response to the pandemic and corresponding increase in mail voting.”

Dietrich said HAVA funds can only be used in elections in which federal candidates are on the ballot.

“What HB 1871 would do is allow jurisdictions that already purchased drop boxes for the 2020 General Election to continue using them in future elections,” Dietrich said.

Rep. Stuart said although there may be aspects of alternative voting options that warrant further analysis, the pandemic is still an issue and voters continue to need safe options to practice their civic duty.

“I look forward to working with people across the aisle to come up with the regulations that we are going to put on those drop boxes,” Stuart said. “But until we get that work done, we should allow our election authorities, if they so choose, the availability to have them for the voters.”

If the bill gets Senate approval and is signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, Stuart said local election authorities could continue using ballot drop boxes and curbside voting for the April 6 municipal election and beyond.
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The Illinois House Public Utilities Committee on Monday approved an energy plan for Downstate Illinois that will deliver consumer-friendly investments in the state’s energy infrastructure, help Illinois reach its clean energy goals, and create vital economic opportunities and good-paying jobs in central and southern Illinois.  The Downstate Clean Energy Affordability Act (DCEAA, HB 1734) has more than 29 bi-partisan co-sponsors.

“When it comes to energy policy, Illinois is not a one-size-fits-all state,” said state Rep. Latoya Greenwood, chief House sponsor of HB 1734. “Illinois operates under two grid systems and the economics for the energy markets in Northern Illinois and Downstate Illinois are vastly different. The provisions in the DCEAA understand and respect this diversity and give downstate customers the benefits of clean energy in a way that is fair, transparent and affordable."

Greenwood highlighted three key pillars of the Downstate clean energy plan: increased production of affordable, renewable energy; incentives to jump-start the electric vehicle market; and solutions to maintain customer affordability in communities from Galesburg to East St. Louis to Carbondale.

"It is our job to make sure the people of Central and Southern Illinois are not left behind in the energy debate," Greenwood said. "As these discussions evolve, we all need to understand that when we talk about energy policy, we’re talking about impacting every single resident, community, business owner — from our youngest citizen to our oldest. It matters to literally everybody."

Greenwood introduced DCEAA in part because of concerns that other energy proposals would add nearly $20 billion to the energy bills of downstate customers over the next 30 years. 

"There are some acceptable provisions in these other plans, but the cost increases for Downstate customers make them a non-starter," Greenwood said. "We can see the light ahead as we emerge from the pandemic and now is not the time to place an unnecessary financial burden on our working families."

Greenwood added that the DCEAA will deliver the benefits of clean energy for only a little more than $1 more per month on the typical customer bill.

Among the key provisions, HB 1734 calls for the construction of larger-scale local solar facilities that will connect to the existing energy distribution infrastructure and will be built by union labor. It will also enable utilities to provide incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, build out the downstate vehicle charging corridor, and provide rebates for in-home charging. In addition, the legislation includes provisions that hold all energy players to strict diversity reporting requirements and ensures that prevailing wages are paid to those who are engaged in construction of renewable energy facilities.

Companion legislation sponsored by Sen. Christopher Belt (SB 311) will be heard in the Senate Energy and Utilities Committee on Thursday.

“Representative Greenwood and I represent districts that have long been promised clean energy projects, but those promises have not been kept," Belt said. "We’re going to get these renewable energy assets built in the communities that need the economic jolt and do it while providing job opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. In other words, we will make sure that the people who are paying for clean energy get to build clean energy."

HB 1734 now moves to the full Illinois House of Representatives for consideration and a vote on the floor. 

SPRINGFIELD — During a a March 9 hearing, the Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee advanced a bill that would ban ceremonial balloon releases.

House Bill 418, introduced by Rep. Sam Singling (D-Grayslake) would impose a $500 penalty for first-time offenses when knowingly releasing balloons into the atmosphere, as in the case of celebrations and special events.

“Obviously, there are significant ecological impacts and there’s also significant infrastructure impact when these balloons land,” Yingling said. “Not only are they dangerous for our habitat but they also complicate our storm sewer systems and our water systems.” 

While the bill passed unanimously, some representatives expressed concern that the initial fine was too steep a penalty.

Rep. Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) said individuals holding personal celebrations should not be subject to the penalty, while larger events such as weddings and special events should be subject to the higher penalties.

“I do understand the issue, but for just a general person out here who doesn’t know the law to slap them with a $500 penalty because they want to release balloons because their mother died of cancer, I just think is a bit extreme,” Mayfield said.

Yingling said the intent is to “prevent organized release of large quantities of these balloons.”

Yingling said he was working with representatives from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on amendments to include clarifying language, and said the fine could be decreased or eliminated for first-time offenses, or language shifted to focus more on organizational release of balloons.

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) described the initial $500 fine as a “penalty enhancement.”

“I do appreciate the sentiment of this legislation, I do think it’s important and whatever we can do to educate groups and organizations to stay away from balloon launches I think would be good,” Butler said.