Illinois Senate Republicans are looking to give citizens at the state level more power in voting. St Sen. Sue Rezin of Morris is co-sponsoring the Voter Empowerment Project, which intends to give voters the right to start statewide constitutional referenda, allow voters to veto unpopular or rushed legislation, and allow recalls of any executive branch officer.
The project would also create an independent redistricting commission. At the federal level, two Democratic senators and all 50 Senate Republicans voted against the Freedom to Vote Act.
The bill would have required states to expand acceptable ID options to vote, allow voting by mail with no excuses needed, and make Election Day a national holiday. Republican Senators said that it would have given the federal government too much power in state controlled elections.