Despite the current dysfunction in Springfield, Illinois voters Tuesday were poised to reject the opportunity to rewrite the state constitution.
With more than half of the results tallied, Illinois voters were opposing the proposal by a ratio of more than 2-1.
Supporters emboldened by the gridlock between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and legislative leaders argued the state’s charter needs to be changed because it lacks key provisions like the right for voters to recall public officials or a change in the way schools are funded.
Opponents said the constitution is fine and the problems are centered on the specific people who are in charge rather than the document itself. Every 20 years, voters must consider whether a convention should be held to redo the constitution.
The measure requires the approval of either 60 percent of people voting on the specific question or 50 percent of those casting ballots in the overall election. Any changes recommended by the convention would have to be ratified by voters in another election.
This year is complicated by a court challenge to ballot language that told voters the measure was rejected 20 years ago by 75 percent of those who voted.
Voters were supposed to receive a court-approved set of instructions telling them to ignore the language on the ballot. But that didn’t happen in some cases, like in Kankakee County where voters did not receive the new information under the direction of the county’s state’s attorney.
Those complications could prompt a legal challenge, whatever the outcome.
Opponents formed a well-funded coalition and featured advertisements with former Gov. Jim Edgar calling for the proposal’s defeat. They argued the convention would be a waste of money and influenced by the same politicians who have caused the current gridlock in Springfield.
The General Assembly’s Legislative Research Unit estimated the convention would cost taxpayers $23 million, while opponents argued it could cost up to $80 million.
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