McHenry Times

State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) supports legislation that he says would give Illinoisans a more active role in the democratic process. 

According to a press release, Wilcox has co-sponsored the "Voter Empowerment Project," which proposes four constitutional amendments the release says are designed to empower citizens to hold politicians accountable and take back control of their democracy.

"Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus are working to provide Illinois voters with a stronger voice in their state government, and I am proud to be a co-sponsor of a legislative package that puts the power back where it belongs, in the hands of the people of the state," Wilcox said, according to the press release. "The aptly named 'Voter Empowerment Project' contains several constitutional amendments to allow citizens to take back control of their democracy and hold corrupt politicians accountable." 

The Voter Empowerment Package includes four constitutional amendments. SJRCA 13 is designed to end partisan gerrymandering in Illinois by establishing an independent redistricting committee. SJRCA 14 would allow citizens to initiate referendums on issues such as taxes and redistricting. SJRCA 15 would enable citizens to initiate referendums on newly-passed laws, as a check on the powers of a supermajority party. SJRCA 16 would enable citizens to recall elected officials. 

Currently, citizens only have the ability to recall the governor.

WLDS News reports that Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie has said that the goal of the Voter Empowerment Project is to enable Illinoisans to participate more actively in the democratic process. 

"Illinois is at a crossroads," McConchie said, according to WLDS News. "We can either allow the political elite to continue to govern and rule our state based on their own interests, and completely disregarding the interests and concerns of all Illinoisans, or we can finally stand up and empower the voters to take back their government."

A proposed amendment similar to SJRCA 13 was blocked from going on the ballot by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2016, according to Capitol News Illinois. The court ruled that the amendment went further than “structural and procedural subjects.”