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After making its case in a Cook County courtroom, a group fighting to reform the partisan drawing of congressional districts still faces one more crucial deadline ahead of achieving its goal of appearing on the November 8 ballot. The Independent Map Amendment, often called Independent Maps, seeks to remove elected officials from drawing legislative districts in favor of a panel that includes Republicans, Democrats, and independents. The proposed panel and new method for drawing the maps would n

For the third consecutive election, the Illinois 10th congressional district will see the same candidates battle each other in a race where independent voters could make the difference. The district has witnessed some of the tightest elections in recent history. Robert Dold won in 2010 before consultant and Democrat Brad Schneider defeated him two years later. The Republican returned in 2014 and defeated Schneider. The margin of victory for the winner in each of the past three elections were 2,

The movement for reforming the drawing of legislative districts in Illinois marches toward its goal but continues to face political obstacles. The Independent Map Amendment, the group behind the effort, seeks to take such power from politicians and return it to the people of the state. If successful, the voters of Illinois will have the opportunity to vote on the matter in November. Currently, the legislative districts are drawn in the General Assembly, which has Democratic veto-proof majoritie

Now that the major parties have all but decided who their nominees will be – with the official nominations coming this July – leaders in both parties are eager to unify their respective bases and discourage voters from considering independent and third party alternatives. Yet this task will prove especially difficult this election season, as the presumptive nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, both have unfavorability ratings above 50 percent. Many members of both parties are dissatisfi

Late last week, the Illinois State Senate passed a measure that helps get more residents registered to vote. The bill still has to clear the Illinois House before it moves to the governor's desk. Senate Bill 250 was introduced by State Senator Andy Manar as a means of streamlining the voter registration process. Currently, Illinois residents are asked whether they want to register to vote when applying for a drivers license. Under Manar's bill, voter registration is automatic and residents have

As of May 10th, 2016, more than 75% of states have held either presidential primaries or caucuses. FairVote has compiled the number of votes casts in state primaries for each candidate to this point, as well as the reported number of votes in state caucuses--though caucus numbers are less reliable than primary elections. Here is summary analysis of state presidential primary election voter turnout to this point in the nomination process. Primary Turnout in 2016 Compared to Contests in 2008 and

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- State officials on Friday accepted a truckload of Independent Map Amendment petitions with nearly twice the minimum number of signatures needed to put the proposed government reform amendment before voters in the November election. "Illinois voters are demanding reform, and the Independent Map Amendment is their best opportunity to change business as usual at the State Capitol," said Dennis FitzSimons, Chair of the non-partisan Independe

In the tenth month of a budget impasse, one Illinois lawmaker is making news about how the state should respond to its inability to pass a budget. Speaking to the Champaign News-Gazette, Illinois State Rep. Bill Mitchell is demanding Illinois state vehicles stop traveling on roads until a budget is passed. The state's budget situation has closed state parks as well as left state universities facing potential cuts and layoffs. Another way the budget is affecting regular Illinoisans is on the st

The campaign of independent candidate Bill Fraser, running in Illinois' 8th Congressional District, announced Wednesday that he has started his petition period to appear on the general election ballot on November 8. If he succeeds in his efforts, Fraser will face Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi and Republican DuPage County Commissioner Paul DiCianni in an open seat contest. As previously reported on IVN, Bill Fraser is running on a unique platform. He promises only to serve a single term in office

Ever since the Chicago Daily Tribune's iconic blunder of projecting Thomas Dewey as the victor in the 1948 election, polling has evolved into a more precise science, one so accurate that scoffers and critics began to argue that the media was swaying public opinion through polls. Exit polling has always been crucial, especially during the days of newspapers with deadlines to meet, for the media to be able to project winners in a timely manner. But something has changed, and voters and viewers h