SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – As Illinoisans head to the polls this year, they’ll be casting their ballot for president, their congressional representative and for their state and local offices. They’ll also be weighing in on three non-binding referendums including one asking whether candidates should face penalties if they try to interfere with election workers doing their job.

They were placed on the ballot as part of an elections law Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed in May.

The non-binding referendum simply asks voters:

“Should any candidate appearing on the Illinois ballot for federal, State or local office be subject to civil penalties if the candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker’s official duties?"

The referendum does not state what constitutes interference with an election worker’s official duties. It also does not specify specific civil penalties.

Since it’s non-binding, Illinois law will not change regardless of how people vote. State lawmakers can, however, use the result as a guide for how to proceed and potentially pass legislation creating new civil penalties for interfering with an election worker doing their job.

Illinois law currently makes it a Class 4 felony to tamper or interfere with voting machines. It’s a Class A misdemeanor to refuse to comply with a lawful order from an election authority. That law applies to anyone, not just candidates.

There are two other non-binding referendums on the 2024 Illinois ballot. One asks voters whether the state should raise taxes 3% on incomes over $1 million to pay for property tax relief. The other asks voters whether the state should mandate all insurance plans offering pregnancy benefits be required to cover fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, without limitation on the number of treatments.

Early voting is underway in Illinois. Voters can look up their polling places and find more information in voting-by-mail on the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

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