Unofficial results in the February 23 Primary Election show a low turnout of about 7.5% of 68,189 registered voters in Urbana and City of Champaign Township. (The Primary was held only in Urbana and the City of Champaign Township.) 

Aaron Ammons noted that, as of February 24,  another 1,300 mail ballots had yet to be returned and will still be counted as long as they were postmarked by Tuesday, so these numbers are unofficial. 

THE RACE IS ON: A look at the three candidates running for mayor of Urbana, courtesy of News-Gazette staff writer Debra Pressey. The candidates are incumbent mayor Diane Marlin, Urbana Council alderman Dennis Roberts and Yinxi (Andy) Ma.  See the article for information on each candidate and how their goals differ. 

2) Drop (completed mail ballot) off at the Clerk's Office. You can drop your ballot off at the Clerk's Office from 8:30AM-4:30PM, Monday-Friday. You need to wear a mask to enter the Brookens building but this is an option if you prefer to hand deliver your ballot. This is the only place you can hand deliver your ballot.
Please Note: You CANNOT return your ballot to any polling location. Although it seems logical to hand your ballot to an Election Judge at a polling place, that action is illegal under current Illinois election law. If you take your ballot to a polling location the judges will have no choice but to refuse your vote by mail ballot.
We look forward to having another successful, fair, free, and accessible election. Thank you again for choosing a safe and secure way of voting.

The April 6 General Election will have include a referendum question asking Savoy voters if they want to adopt the home-rule form of government. 

A local group - Savoy Citizens for Home Rule -  has launched a new website at savoyhomerule. org with answers to  questions about what home rule is and what it would mean for Savoy.  Organizer Joe Pisula says the group will also begin leaving informational doorhangers at Savory homes soon.  Early voting for the April 6 election begins February 25, two day after the Primary. 

The article describes home rule in this way: 
​ "Home rule — the form of government already in effect in such communities as Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Tuscola and Danville — broadens a community’s powers to self-govern and respond to local issues. Homerule communities can take actions that aren’t specifically forbidden under state law, while non-home-rule communities can only take actions state law specifically allows, according to the Illinois Municipal League."

One hundred and one years ago, on February 14, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) met to strategize about their 19th Amendment ratification plan. But they also had an eye toward the future. A constitutional right to vote for women was within reach, but the suffragists knew their work would not end there. In fact, it was just the beginning. NAWSA suffragists voted to form a League of Women Voters to advance the legislative priorities of women and help inform and educate the millions of newly enfranchised voters to fully participate in American democracy.

VIDEO: League of Women Voters at 100

Today, we commemorate the founding of our organization. But we must do so humbly, knowing that many women of color were unable to exercise their legal right to vote because of racist policies and barriers that were developed with the explicit intent of silencing their voices. Our organization did not use its newly found power to prevent that from happening. 

In reflecting on the long history of our organization, the words of poet laureate Amanda Gorman ring especially true: “Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it.”

There is so much to be proud of on the anniversary of our founding. There is equally much to learn from and repair. An anniversary is an opportunity to do both. We will never forget our failures, and we will never stop working to be an organization that is inclusive, has diverse representation in our leadership, and uplifts the voices of those who are marginalized in our country.

BLOG: Remaining Nonpartisan in Hyper-partisan Times

The League of Women Voters has evolved from a mighty political experiment designed to help 20 million newly enfranchised women vote in 1920, to what it is today: a unique, nonpartisan organization that is a recognized force in molding political leaders, shaping public policy, and promoting informed citizen participation at all levels of government. 

The League of Women Voters takes pride in what we have accomplished over the past 101 years, and we humbly rededicate ourselves to the mission of empowering voters and defending democracy for another 100.
In solidarity,
​
Virginia Kase
Chief Executive Officer, LWVUS