From the city of Chicago to the farms of the central and southern region of the state, Illinois citizens expect their voices to matter and their votes to count. They also rightly expect that our elections are secure and transparent and that they can trust the results when the votes are tallied.
State Representative Patrick Windhorst serves as the House Republican Floor Leader and as the House Minority Spokesman on the House’s Ethics & Elections Committee. Rep. Windhorst is a native of Metropolis, a community situated on the border of Kentucky and about a six-hour drive from the city of Chicago. Windhorst says Illinois government must do all it can to secure our elections.
“We get our authority, as legislators, from the consent of those citizens whom we govern, and we owe Illinoisans free, fair, and secure elections,” Windhorst said. “If or when voters doubt the legitimacy or integrity of our elections, the foundation of our democratic government is shaken. That is not a good thing.”
Windhorst isn’t alone in his concerns. State Rep. Ryan Spain previously served on the House Ethics & Elections Committee. Rep. Spain says he believes protecting the integrity of Illinois elections is a shared responsibility, and one that should be free from partisan politics.
“The integrity and security of elections in Illinois are threatened by a variety of things, including cybersecurity concerns, disinformation campaigns, vulnerabilities in mail-in and early voting, and sadly, human error,” Rep. Spain said. “We owe it to our citizens to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot and that their votes are counted accurately, with no intrusion on election results from threats either foreign or domestic.”
From the home of Superman at the southern tip of the state, to how it plays in Peoria, to the big city of Chicago, the survival of Illinois’ democratic process depends on holding elections people can believe in. Free, fair, and secure elections can help guarantee that We the People can have faith in our government. Protecting the security of elections in Illinois is essential to preserving the stability, legitimacy, and future of the Land of Lincoln.