Civic engagement describes a broad composite of behaviors, including several of the most frequently measured forms of civic participation. This report examines the results of the civic engagement survey by looking at three distinct categories of civic participation: 1) participation in elections, 2) formal forms of participation, other than acts related to elections, which are identied as volunteering, philanthropy, group membership, and leadership, and 3) informal forms of participation, including political socialization, interconnectedness, and accessing news and information using data from the Census Current Population Survey, November Voting Supplement, September Volunteering Supplement and Civic Engagement Supplement (see Technical Notes). This report also highlights the notable discrepancy in rates of civic participation between non–Hispanics and Hispanics, the fastest growing minority group in Illinois. The analysis is based upon data derived from the Census Current Population Survey and Civic Engagement Supplement.

PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS
Voter registration and voter turnout are typical measures of voter engagement. Voter engagement is a function of election laws and policies; so these laws and policies, good or bad, have a direct impact on voter participation and ultimately inform people's attitudes about state politics. Administrative procedures for elections and management of the activities of partisan actors are crucial elements in determining whether a state holds fair and competitive elections.

VOTER REGISTRATION
Voter registration is a formal act in which a prospective voter's name is entered into a database, thus allowing that person to vote in federal and/or state elections. Registering people to vote is the first step towards ensuring that they have the capacity to vote on Election Day. Federal and state elections in the United States are administered locally, which means that every state has the ability to set different procedural rules for elections, including the process by which citizens register to vote. For example, some states mandate that in order to vote, voters must be registered some time prior to the election while other states allow voters to register on Election Day itself.

Despite an electried Presidential campaign won by former Illinois Senator Barack Obama, Illinois ranked 33rd among all states in voter registration rate (70.9%). That registration rate was comparable to the national voter registration rate of 71.0% for all eligible citizens in 2008. What is disconcerting, however, is that having a popular candidate from Illinois was not enough to increase the voter registration rate. Furthermore, Illinois' voter registration rate declined by four percentage points compared to the registration rate for the 2004 presidential election.

Voter registration at government agencies and voter registration drives in Illinois occurs at a rate higher than that of the national average. However, Illinoisans do not avail themselves as frequently as their national counterparts of registering at other locations, such as at schools or hospitals, on campuses, at the polling place, or through public assistance agencies. The most dramatic difference between Illinois and national averages was that Illinoisans registered by mail far less frequently than citizens nationwide (7.2% vs. 16.7%).

The most common reason given for not registering to vote, both nationwide (40.8%) and in Illinois (38.5%), was lack of interest in the election. Additional reasons given related to accessing the system included voters failing to meet registration deadlines and not knowing where or how to register. Moreover, Illinoisans' lack of understanding related to the process of registering to vote exceeded national statistics on all parameters.

The lack of interest in election outcomes highlight the systemic deciency in civic engagement and is a stark indicator for why as a society we must evaluate how we engage in the democratic process and how to dismantle institutional barriers to participation. For example, Illinois has a history of making the voter registration process confusing. In 1994, after the passage of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act (the Federal “Motor Voter Act” that sought to increase voter registration by allowing people to register at the DMV when applying for or renewing their licenses), Illinois created a registration system wherein individuals could register for only federal elections at local public ofces or the DMV unless the voter proactively requested to register for both state and federal elections. The registration system was confusing to those who were registering voters as well as prospective voters trying to register. Eventually the registration system was dismantled, but only after a lawsuit was led and a court ruled the system a violation of the State Constitution. 8 A more current example for why those in Illinois may have a more difcult time in accessing the registration process, as compared with the national average, is that commonly frequented facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and campuses are not automatic places of voter registration in Illinois. Only election authorities, municipal clerks, township/road district clerks, precinct committee members, and Secretary of State driver's license facility employees are automatically eligible to register voters. All other entities, such as libraries, high schools, elementary schools, universities and colleges, and health care facilities may only be appointed to register voters upon written request to be “Deputy Registrars.” 9 Lastly, Illinois does not have Election Day registration. The combination of low civic interest in elections, government policies that make it difcult for people to register to vote, and a lack of fundamental civic education that promotes building healthy civic habits at a young age results in eligible voters not valuing how they can have their voices heard through elections.

VOTER TURNOUT
Voter turnout is a measure of the percentage of eligible voters, whether registered to vote or not, who cast a ballot in any given election. Illinois ranked 37th in voter turnout among citizens 18 and older in the November 2008 election, with a turnout rate of 62.6%, compared with 63.6% nationally. Notably, as with voter registration, Illinois' voter turnout declined by three percentage points compared with the average turnout for the 2004 Presidential election despite former Illinois Senator Barack Obama being on the ballot in 2008.

When Illinoisans were asked why they did not vote, the most frequent reason given was lack of time, which at 23.3% was higher than the national average of 18.9%. The second most frequent reason was the feeling that their vote did not make a difference. Illinois voters more often felt that their vote did not make a difference compared with the national average (20.3% vs. 14.4%). Despite the lack of time being the most frequent reason given for not voting, the discrepancy between state and national averages is most signicant with respect to Illinoisans feeling that their vote would not make a difference. This nearly 6% difference from the national average illustrates the citizenry's lack of faith in the current political system as well as lack of experience and confidence that civic engagement will affect meaningful change.

In addition, Illinoisans voted before Election Day, whether by mail or not, at shockingly low rates compared with the national average. This is not surprising as, at the time of the survey, Illinois had a restrictive absentee ballot law that limited the circumstances under which an absentee ballot could be cast. This statistic will most likely improve in future elections as the General Assembly recently passed a law in 2009 that markedly removed restrictions to absentee ballot voting .

Voter Registration: Enacted Reforms
In August 2009, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 96–0553, which was effective without delay and allows any registered voter to receive a ballot by mail on demand. Previously very restrictive, “no excuse absentee voting,” provides that Illinois voters shall not be required to specify a reason for voting by mail. 10

Voter Turnout: Enacted Reforms
The Illinois legislature also passed Public Act 96–0832, which includes new campaign disclosure laws and campaign contribution limits for candidates seeking election and for the political parties that support them. 11 While most provisions will not go into effect until January 2011, some requirements relating to independent expenditure campaigns went into effect in July 2010. The law requires all political committees to designate themselves either as a candidate political committee, political party committee, political action committee, or ballot initiative committee for purposes of applying specic campaign contribution disclosure requirements or campaign contribution limits outlined in the new law. Signicant portions of the new law include:

• A candidate political committee may not accept contributions over $5,000 from any individual; over $10,000 from any corporation, labor organization or association; or over $50,000 from a candidate political committee or political action committee;

• A political party committee may not accept contributions over $10,000 from any individual; over $20,000 from any corporation, labor organization or association; or over $50,000 from a political action committee;

• A political action committee may not accept contributions over $5,000 from any individual; over $10,000 from any corporation, labor organization or association; or over $50,000 from a candidate political committee or political action committee;

• Ballot initiative committees may accept contributions in any amount from any source;

• Self–funding candidates are subject to reporting requirements when they loan themselves more than $250,000 for statewide office or $100,000 for all other elective ofces;

• All independent expenditures of $3,000 or more must be disclosed to the State Board of Elections within two days of the expenditure; and

• A Campaign Finance Reform Task Force is created that is charged with conducting a thorough review of the implementation of the campaign finance reform legislation in the State of Illinois, as well as the feasibility of subsidized political campaigns in exchange for voluntary adherence to the expenditure limitations.

Recognizing the quote from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis that “sunlight is the best disinfectant,” more comprehensive disclosure laws will increase people's capacity to make informed decisions by knowing how campaigns are funded and how candidates use funds to execute campaigns. Although the campaign reform legislation was not as comprehensive or restrictive as desired by the public, the legislation was a first step to address Illinois' reputation of a “Wild West” political atmosphere.

Needed Reforms throughout the State Election System
Easing restrictions on voter registration, improving access to the ballot, instituting civic education to build healthy civic habits, and providing tangible examples to inform the public as to how increased voter registration and voter turnout results in healthy democratic communities is crucial. To these ends, Illinois' civic health would benet by the following policy reforms:

• Mandate hands–on civic education in primary and secondary schools to build healthy civic habits. With respect to election administration, all elementary and secondary schools should automatically be places of registration and create incentive programs to promote youth participation in election judge programs.

• Allow Election Day registration which enables eligible voters to register and vote on Election Day. As a signicant reason for not registering to vote was a failure to meet registration deadlines, Election Day registration would increase opportunities for voters to participate in elections. Statistics have shown that election turnout rates are higher in those states that have same–day voter registration. 12

• Embrace technology as a means to increase registration, such as through online voter registration implemented in Arizona and California.

• Establish clear standards for provisional ballots. Currently, election ofcials do not have adequate direction on when to allow a challenged voter to vote a regular ballot rather than a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct, even if cast at the correct polling site or in the correct county, will not be counted for any electoral race, potentially disenfranchising a great number of eligible voters.

• Increase voter choice by easing restrictions on candidates attempting to access the ballot. Illinois' traditionally high petition–signature requirements, combined with short timelines for gathering candidate signatures, is a deterrent to individuals seeking public office and results in few candidate choices for the electorate.

• Remove barriers to placing referenda on the ballot. Illinois currently has very restrictive binding and advisory ballot access provisions, diminishing the capacity of citizens to have their voices heard on important policy issues and directly affect policy decisions. Voter interest in election issues, and presumably voter turnout, would be positively impacted by increasing the ability of the citizenry to place referenda on the ballot.

• Produce comprehensive electronic voters' guides in advance of elections so the electorate can become informed on the issues before casting their ballots.

• Strengthen campaign contribution and expenditure disclosure laws to increase public information regarding the nancing of campaigns and to promote more competitive elections.

• Revive cumulative voting for the Illinois House of Representatives and educate the citizenry as to how different voting systems can promote voter choice at the polls and diversity of representation.

• Reform Illinois' system of redistricting, in which politicians currently choose their voters behind closed doors in a process that is the antithesis of democracy. The redistricting process needs to be reformed to provide greater transparency and accountability and ensure voters choose their political representatives, not the other way around.