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.

A lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections and its director has been pared down by a federal judge who dismissed one of the charges and ruled two plaintiffs lack standing to sue.

The Trump administration has asked at least 27 states for sensitive voter information, including driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Illinois has declined.

States are pushing to consolidate elections into fewer election days. Aligning municipal with gubernatorial and federal elections streamlines voting and could increase voter turnout.

Republican contenders continue to add their names to the list of candidates who wish to defeat Gov. JB Pritzker and become Illinois' next governor.

Some state Democratic lawmakers believe that Illinois should be the first state in the country to require voting for all eligible residents.

Reporting suggests Dems' chief concern is not disenfranchising even more voters, but facing increased competition for their own seats.