Illinois

Voters in Illinois will be given the option this November of convening a constitutional convention, or ConCon. Required by law to appear on the ballot every twenty years, the last time voters were asked they resoundingly rejected the notion (25% yes, 75% no). If voters decide to move forward, the state legislature would create an election process whereby two individuals from each legislative district would be selected to serve as delegates.

In light of the Democratic Governor's poor approval rating, conservatives and elected Republican officials are heavily supporting an affirmative vote for a ConCon. Noted supporters include Lt. Gov Pat Quinn, the Decatur Herald News Editorial Staff, Representative Bill Black, and many other Republican members of the legislature. These advocates have created a buzz around supporting a ConCon to include an initiative process (which currently exists only in an advisory capacity) and a recall amendment. Yes for Illinois is a newly created political action committee aimed at advocating a yes vote.

Meanwhile, a broad-based, non-partisan coalition of respected consumer, education, good-government, judicial, business and labor organizations has formed the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution to urge a no vote. The coalition includes organized labor (AFL-CIO, IFT, IEA, SEIU & UFCW), the Illinois Business RoundTable, the League of Women Voters, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Farm Bureau. The Alliance is stressing that a ConCon would cost taxpayers upwards of $100 million and would place one of the nation's most citizen-friendly constitutions at risk.

One measure was on the statewide ballot (it failed); it was a legislative referenda.

1 Constitutional Amendment Was Referred

Constitutional Convention
Proposed Call for a Constitutional Convention: This proposal deals with a call for a state constitutional convention. The last such convention was held in 1969-70, and a new Constitution was adopted in 1970. The 1970 Illinois Constitution requires that the question of calling a convention be placed before the voters every 20 years. In 1988 the electors rejected the call for a constitutional convention, with 75% voting against calling a convention and 25% voting in favor of calling a convention. If you believe the 1970 Illinois Constitution needs to be revised through the convention process, vote "YES" on the question of calling a constitutional convention. If you believe that a constitutional convention is not necessary, or that changes can be accomplished through other means, vote "NO" on the calling of a constitutional convention.
Proponents: Yes for Illinois, http://yesforillinois.com/
Opponents: Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution, http://www.protectillinoisconstitution.org
FAILED 33% - 67%

For additional information please check with the Illinois Secretary of State: http://www.elections.state.il.us/Default.aspx