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 Choices prompt more people to vote, so Illinois
Policy recruited 38 candidates to give voters more choices about who represents
them in the Statehouse.
The result: Compared to the 2018 election, an estimated 1.2 million more
Illinoisans will have choices on their Nov. 8 ballots; for the first time in
recent history, Republican candidates outnumber Democrats; and Illinois will see
a record number of contested races.
Half of all Illinois House races were uncontested in the past 20 years. That is
by design. Gerrymandered legislative districts and arcane candidacy processes
and rules work to keep incumbents and the majority party in power by denying
voters choices.
Elections with no choices are part of why Alper Turan fled Iran. He was
recruited by Illinois Policy and is running for Illinois’ 13th House District to
give back to his new home and show his gratitude for the freedoms he was denied
in Iran.
“You don’t have the freedom of speech, religion and assembly that we enjoy
here,” Turan said. “You don’t even have freedom of thought. If they find out
your thoughts are not aligning with their ideology, you’ll get in trouble. Not
just you, they’ll punish your friends, your family, your kids.”
Turan had opportunities for residency in other countries but wanted to come to
the U.S., even though it meant being a refugee for several extra years. Since
adopting Chicago as his new home, he sees growing issues he faced in Iran such
as rising crime, burdensome taxation and inequity in the school system.
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The 13th District hasn’t had a competitive election in 20 years. Thanks to Turan
and other Illinois Policy candidate recruits, the 2022 elections will be the
most competitive in more than two decades.
Of 118 Illinois House races, 82 will be contested on Nov. 8. The next closest
was 80 contested races in 2002. In the state Senate, 32 out of 59 races will be
contested.
An additional five races were competitive thanks to candidates being recruited
for the June 28 primary election.
With the power to draw districts, politicians get to choose their voters instead
of the other way around. When district shapes are manipulated, opposing
candidates don’t bother running and suppress a voter’s choice.
Illinois Policy’s efforts to help conservative, liberal and independent
candidates through the process of running for office disrupts the history of
voter suppression. Getting to choose between two candidates should be normal,
not a surprise.
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