Amendment 1 passes as Illinois board approves certifies midterm election
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 [December 06, 2022]
By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois’ midterm general election has been
certified, as has the amendment to the state’s constitution prohibiting
local and state regulations on what can be collectively bargained.
The Illinois State Board of Elections Monday approved the official
canvas of vote totals from the Nov. 8 election. More than 4.1 million
people cast ballots with a voter turnout of just over 51%. That’s the
fourth lowest midterm turnout in the past 40 years, the board said.
The proposed labor amendment to Illinois’ constitution codifying
collective bargaining also passed. Final numbers show 58.72% of those
voting on the question approved, falling short of the 60% needed. But,
the question did pass, getting 53.42% of all votes cast in the election.
The language of the question adds a new section to Illinois’ Bill of
Rights to “guarantee workers the fundamental right to organize and to
bargain collectively and to negotiate wage, hours, and working
conditions, and to promote their economic welfare and safety at work.”
Sponsor of the question state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, told The
Center Square last week in anticipation of the affirmative outcome that
it’s a win for labor.
“I think we can finally have an opportunity to turn the page and move
forward and acknowledge that we believe in workers’ rights, we believe
in their ability to collectively bargain over their wages, their working
conditions, their benefits,” Villivalam said.
The workers’ rights case Janus v. AFSCME from Illinois involving a state
worker challenging forced dues to a union as a condition of employment
was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. The court prohibited
forced unionization for public sector employees.
In previous years, other states have opted to become right-to-work
states where workers have a right to not be forced into a union as a
condition of employment. Villivalam said passage of Amendment 1 in
Illinois lays that debate to rest.
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“We’ve had robust discussions about right-to-work zones and banning
right to work. I think those issues are now put to bed with the
voters having spoken,” he said.
Opponents of the measure warned the change will cause increased
labor costs for local units of government, leading to tax increases.
Illinois Policy staff attorney Mailee Smith said the amendment puts
local governments in a difficult spot when negotiating with labor
unions. She said local police unions can now negotiate things that
run contrary to state law, like police regulations found in the
SAFE-T Act.
“That doesn’t have to be done legislatively, that can be done with a
collective bargaining agreement and that collective bargaining
agreement basically trumps state law,” she said.
The final election tally also shows Democrats sweeping all statewide
offices.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth got nearly 2.33 million votes, winning
that race with 56.8% of the vote. Gov. J.B. Pritzker won reelection
with 2.25 million votes, or 54.9%. Attorney General Kwame Raoul got
2.21 million votes, winning that three-way race with 54.35% of the
vote. In the open secretary of state seat, Alexi Giannoulias
garnered 2.22 million votes with 54.28% in that race. Treasurer
Michael Frerichs won reelection with 2.2 million, or 54.29% of the
vote.
Comptroller Susana Mendoza was the largest vote getter of statewide
officeholders, winning reelection with more than 2.33 million votes,
or 57.08% of the vote.
Other statistics certified by the state elections board Monday
showed more than 39% of the ballots cast were before election day,
with about 18% by mail and 21% early and in person.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and other
issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of award-winning
broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning Newsfeed out of
Springfield.
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