Automatic Voter Registration Passes Illinois Senate

Today, the Illinois State Senate passed Illinois PIRG-supported Automatic Voter Registration legislation with bi-partisan support.

Today, the Illinois State Senate passed Illinois PIRG-supported Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) legislation with bi-partisan support, 42-16. It now moves on to the House.

Building bi-partisan suport has been a priority for our coalition, Just Democracy Illinois. Every American, Democrat, Republican, Independent, has a fundamental right to vote and to have their vote counted. AVR not only promises to add more eligible Illinois voters tp the rolls, but will make our voter lists more accurate and secure- and save taxpayers money over time. Those are outcomes everyone can get behind.

Authors

Abe Scarr

State Director, Illinois PIRG; Energy and Utilities Program Director, PIRG

Abe Scarr is the director of Illinois PIRG and is the PIRG Energy and Utilities Program Director. He is a lead advocate in the Illinois Capitol and in the media for stronger consumer protections, utility accountability, and good government. In 2017, Abe led a coalition to pass legislation to implement automatic voter registration in Illinois, winning unanimous support in the Illinois General Assembly for the bill. He has co-authored multiple in-depth reports on Illinois utility policy and leads coalition campaigns to reform the Peoples Gas pipe replacement program. As PIRG's Energy and Utilities Program Director, Abe supports PIRG energy and utility campaigns across the country and leads the national Gas Stoves coalition. He also serves as a board member for the Consumer Federation of America. Abe lives in Chicago, where he enjoys biking, cooking and tending his garden.