Illinois lawmakers clash over election consolidation and compulsory
voting
[September 25, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing boosting voter
turnout by consolidating elections and considering compulsory voting.
During a subject matter hearing of the House Ethics and Elections
Committee, Miles Rapoport of the University of Chicago testified that
countries such as Australia have seen turnout jump from 60% to more than
90% after implementing compulsory voting in 1924.
“They have a very light-touch enforcement system in Australia, and some
countries don’t enforce compulsory voting at all, yet it still raises
turnout,” said Rapoport. “The biggest benefit is that it dramatically
increases participation and makes the electorate look more like the
overall population, rather than skewing toward older, wealthier, whiter
and more educated voters.”
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, warned that mandatory voting
could erode core freedoms.
“Part of our electoral process and part of being a free people is the
right not to engage,” Windhorst told the committee. “We have the freedom
of speech. We also have the freedom not to speak. We can encourage
voting without making it compulsory.”
Windhorst cautioned that even voluntary efforts to pressure abstaining
voters could pave the way toward shaming or penalizing them.
Windhorst pressed Rapoport on how Australia enforces compulsory voting.
Rapoport explained that officials first send several letters asking
nonvoters to explain their absence; if they fail to respond, a fine may
be imposed. One proponent added that in some countries, simply
publishing the names of those who don’t vote is enough to force
participation.
State Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, is sponsoring House Bill 2718,
which would require all eligible citizens to cast a ballot in every
general election. The bill allows voters to satisfy the requirement by
submitting a blank ballot and specifies that no fines, fees or penalties
would be imposed on those who do not vote.
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The committee also turned its attention to election consolidation,
shifting Illinois’ frequent local contests to align with
higher-turnout state and federal elections.
Policy analysts noted that 31 states have considered bills to
consolidate elections this year, with 12 enacting measures. In
states such as Arkansas and West Virginia, school board and
municipal elections have already been moved onto statewide ballots.
Supporters say research shows aligning elections with even-year
contests can nearly double turnout in down-ballot races while also
saving local governments money.
Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures
explained fewer, larger elections could reduce costs and ease voter
fatigue.
“Holding fewer elections can also reduce costs and administrative
burdens for election officials, especially in jurisdictions where
municipalities fund their own contests,” said King. “Off-cycle
elections may allow voters to focus on local issues, while
consolidating state, federal and local elections can shift attention
toward larger state or federal contests rather than individual local
races on the ballot.”
But election administrators urged caution. Adam Lasker, general
counsel for the Chicago Board of Elections, warned that adding
citywide contests to presidential or gubernatorial ballots could
overwhelm voters.
“Adding city elections would push us to five or six pages, lengthen
lines at polling places, and cut in half the ability for citizens to
place referenda on the ballot,” said Lasker.
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