On Tuesday, Cook County voters will have the opportunity to vote in two referendums regarding major policy changes for Illinois.
The first, which will appear on ballots statewide, asks residents whether Illinois needs to revise or replace its state constitution.
The current version was ratified in 1970, exactly one century after the previous constitution was adopted. One of the changes made at the 1969-1970 convention requires the state to ask voters once every two decades if a convention is necessary.
In 1988, 75 percent of Illinoisans voted against holding a new convention, according to information distributed by the state to educate voters about this year’s referendum. The state counts ballots with no answer on the referendum as negative votes.
The second referendum, which will only be on the ballot for Cook County residents, proposes that the Constitution of the State of Illinois be amended to include a recall process for the governor and other state officials.
As an advisory referendum, it will have no immediate impact on policy. The number of “yes” votes will simply measure how strongly Illinois’ most populous county wants the ability to recall elected officials.
Only two recall elections in United States history have resulted in the removal of a governor from office. In 1921, Governor Lynn Frazier of North Dakota was replaced by Ragnvold Nestos and in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger took over for Governor Gray Davis in California.
