Illinois can Build a Better Politics Through Automatic Voter Registration, Campaign Finance Reform

Illinois PIRG

Statement of Illinois PIRG Director Abe Scarr

President Obama came to Springfield today because he knows building a better politics starts at the state and local level. Our democracy works best when everyone participates, and Illinois has multiple opportunities this year to empower voters and strengthen our democracy.

We thank President Obama for supporting Automatic Voter Registration legislation in Springfield, the top priority for the Just Democracy Coalition. Automatic Voter registration could add over a million eligible Illinois voters to the rolls, save taxpayers money, and clean up our voter lists to ensure the integrity of our elections. We are working to build bipartisan support for Senate Bill 2134 (Manar) and House Bill 4208 (Gabel).

As primary season kicks into high gear, there is more evidence than ever that we need to stem the influence of big money in our elections by empowering small donors and candidates that forgo big money in favor of small donor funded campaigns. We call on the Chicago City Council to pass the Fair Elections Ordinance, and for Cook County and other local governments to follow suit.

Finally, it’s past time that President Obama does what is in his power to shine a light on dark money coming into our elections, by signing an executive order requiring federal contractors – some of America’s largest companies – to disclose their political spending.