From Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons,  see the announcement below of a Voter Education Series.  There will be at least 3 events in the series, which are all free and open to the public.  They will discuss all aspects of Vote by Mail and Vote Centers.  The first one will be held at the Champaign Public Library  on Saturday March 19, 2022, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. ​

Capital News Illinois has provided information on candidates in statewide primary races for governor/lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller, and attorney general.  Read the full article on the News-Gazette website.

1.  Champaign County Clerk List of Primary Candidates - The Clerk's website includes the unofficial list of candidates who have filed for races at this time: countywide officials, County Board members, and precinct committee people. Access this list  on the County Clerk website. 

2.  News-Gazette Background on Countywide Primary Candidates - A  March 15 News Gazette story by Debra Pressey provides additional background on countywide primary candidates.  Below are the first few paragraphs from that story; see the full article on the News-Gazette website. 

News-Gazette: March 15, 2022

URBANA — Just one contested race has emerged for Champaign Countywide offices in the upcoming June 28 primaries.​

The filing period to run in the primaries ended Monday, with two Republicans filing to run for county sheriff, Gregory Worrell and John Brown. The winner will challenge current Sheriff Dustin Heuerman in the Nov. 8 general election. Heuerman is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Neither County Treasurer Cassandra Johnson nor County Clerk and Recorder Aaron Ammons are facing competition in the Democratic primary, though both face Republican challengers in the November election.

Republican Ted Myhre, who lost to Johnson in 2020, will be making another run for county treasurer, and Republican Terrence Stuber has filed to run for county clerk and recorder.

Steve Summers, a Democrat on the county board, will be running for county executive unopposed in the primary. Current County Executive Darlene Kloeppel, also a Democrat, isn’t seeking re-election, and no Republican candidates filed.
​
.....see complete News Gazette article....

Background:  The forces of division have long known that pitting us against each other is a potent way to mobilize us.  The internet, social media, and easy connection through our mobile devices, are being leveraged to help sow confusion, disruption, disinformation and polarization. Deception and manipulation of news and information pre-date the internet, but its acceleration, reach and scale are greater on the web. Mis/disinformation represents a threat to our society and democracy, undermines elections, fractures public trust and gets in the way of advancing solutions to our pressing issues.   

The League of Women Voters of the U.S. CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following statement following President Biden’s State of the Union address:
“In his first State of the Union address, President Biden made clear the importance of democracy — in America and across the globe. And as democracy in Europe is being threatened, we support and stand united with the people of Ukraine. An attack on democracy anywhere is an attack on democracy for all of us. We stand in the belief that democracy will always prevail both internationally and right here at home. 

See the full LWV press release. 
​Thanks to the  League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn for sharing this item. ​

What are the leading proposals to combat election disinformation and are they consistent with the First Amendment? Join this free Webinar on March 10, 6:00 pm Central Time, offered by the National Constitution Center.  ​ Register for this event.

Speakers are Richard L. Hasen, leading election law expert and author of "Cheap Speech: How Disinformation Poisons Our Politics—and How to Cure It;" Sarah Isgur, staff writer at "The Dispatch" and co-host of the legal podcast "Advisory Opinions;" and Catherine Ross, free speech expert and author of "A Right to Lie? Presidents, Other Liars, and the First Amendment." Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

About the National Constitution Center: President Ronald Reagan signed the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 on September 16, 1988. The act directed the establishment of the National Constitution Center, an institution “within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park” that “shall disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.”

The following invitation was provided by the League of Women Voters of Wheaton. The March 10, 7:00 pm webinar is free, but advance registration is required. Registrants will receive a Zoom link before the event. Questions for the speaker may be submitted in advance to [email protected].​

The following is taken from the League of Women Voters of Illinois. For more information on the sessions and speakers and to register, visit their web page at https://www.lwvil.org/issuesbriefing22

Join the League of Women Voters of Illinois for our annual look at current issues as well as legislation being considered in the Illinois General Assembly. Learn from legislators and nonpartisan experts - be informed and prepared so you can advocate for change in your community and state. 

Getting briefed is easy from wherever you are because Issues Briefing is on Zoom. This year’s full week of programming provides multiple opportunities to learn about a variety of topics. All programs are open to the public - invite friends and colleagues to engage and activate!

REGISTER TODAY! ONLY $25 FOR A FULL WEEK OF PROGRAMS.

In keeping with the League’s mission to provide equitable access to information, scholarships are available. Please use the scholarship form if you would like to request an Issues Briefing scholarship. American Sign Language interpreters will be on screen for all sessions.