Midterm elections are right around the corner in Illinois, and in addition to electing representatives in the U.S. House, which has the potential to sway control between democratic and republican parties, Illinois voters will also choose a governor, an attorney general, judges, and other state executive officer roles.
Resilience encourages those who can, to vote, and to do your research before heading to the ballot.
The #metoo movement has drawn national attention on the narratives of survivors and the rights of survivors in schools and workplaces. While it is important to familiarize yourself with the response of systems of government when survivors choose bravely to come forward, we also encourage a commitment to taking down all systems that support not only sexism, but racism, classism, xenophobism, ableism, ageism and heterosexism in your voting. Tackling the intersection of these systems of oppression will always remain at the heart of what Resilience stands for and remains at the very foundation of our work supporting survivors of sexual violence.
We encourage you to study up on the candidates up for election here in Illinois, and make informed decisions around who aligns with your personal beliefs. Here are few resources to help you in your research (we encourage you to also seek your own):
General Info on the elections: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-what-to-know-about-midterm-elections-20180925-story.html
Info on candidates:
https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html
https://www.vote411.org/ballot
For more information on judicial elections: https://www.isba.org/judicialevaluations
Also, check out the responses of Erika Harold and Kwame Raoul, candidates for the Attorney General of Illinois, to a questionnaire created by six Chicago-based organizations, including Resilience, about:
- Ensuring colleges and universities comply with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act
- Managing the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program
- Providing training and seminars to law enforcement regarding gender-based violence
- Administering the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Fund and the Domestic Violence Fund
IL AG Gender Violence Questionnaire Response – Harold (PDF)
IL AG Gender Violence Questionnaire Response – Raoul (PDF)
The questionnaire was prepared and presented by: Resilience, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network, Life Span, Shriver Center and Women Employed.