Skip Election Day Hassles: Vote Early or By Mail

Written by John Biver

President Ronald Reagan called voting a “the most sacred right of free men and women.” Sacred or not, less-than-sacred stuff often happens on Election Day, preventing even those with the best of intentions to leave their ballot uncast. Work or family matters get in the way, the long lines at the polling place common in a presidential election year serve as a big deterrent, and yes — sometimes people just plain forget to vote.… Continue Reading

Dream Congressional Match-Up: Jeanne Ives vs. The Squad

Written by Laurie Higgins

If ever there were a reason to vote for Jeanne Ives in the Republican Primary, it is yesterday’s endorsement of Ives’ opponent Jay Kinzler by the Chicago Sun-Times. If it had a soul, the notoriously leftist Chicago Sun-Times would sell it to you-know-whom to stop a true conservative like Ives from being elected. And who would you want to see do battle with AOC, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib: Jeanne Ives—or Jay Kinzler?… Continue Reading

IFA Endorsements for the 2020 Primary Election

Written by David E. Smith

Early voting has already begun for the March 17th primary election. We hope and pray that Christian voters in Illinois will come out in droves to cast their ballots to support pro-life, pro-family candidates. Prior to going to the polls, make sure you know where your candidates stand on issues important to people of faith by checking out IFI’s voting resources.

Illinois Family Action is today announcing its list of “endorsed”candidates. … Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Lobby Your Lawmakers

Written by David E. Smith

If you’ve ever wondered how best to effectively communicate with your state representatives and senators, this edition of Spotlight will be of special interest to you!

In a presentation at the 2019 SpeakOut Illinois conference, former state representative Peter Breen gives us an insider’s view of the life of a legislator and offers valuable tips for interacting with those individuals who are hard against an issue, hard in favor of an issue, or “neutral.”… Continue Reading

Old Fashioned and Modern Day Election Fraud

Written by Jane Ryan Carrell

Let’s look at some of the early forms of election fraud.  A historian might tell us of elections two centuries ago, but we won’t go back that far. Instead, let’s consider forms of fraud practiced in Chicago in the Richard J. Daley era: the fifties, sixties and early seventies. Daley died of a heart attack Dec. 20, 1976 at the age of 74, after being elected in 1975 for his sixth 4-year term, holding office until his death.… Continue Reading

Arrogant and Immature Response from Illinois Progressive Lawmakers

Written by Laurie Higgins

If Illinoisans need any more evidence of the utter disdain that “progressive” members of the General Assembly have for voters, here’s the email Illinois Family Institute (IFI) received from 16 state representatives in response to our voter survey which is sent to all candidates running for state offices:

Dear Illinois Family Institute,

Please accept this as our response to your candidate survey.

Yours Truly,

Representative Jonathan Carroll (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Kelly Cassidy (Pronouns she/hers)

Representative Daniel Didech (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Sara Feigenholtz (Pronouns she/she/moi)

Representative Ann Williams (Pronouns she/hers)

Representative Will Guzzardi (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Bob Morgan (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Sam Yingling (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (Pronouns she/hers)

Representative Aaron Ortiz (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Delia Ramirez (Pronouns she/her/hers)

Representative Anna Moeller (Pronouns she/her)

Representative Maurice West II (Pronouns he/him/his)

Representative Lamont Robinson

Representative Emanuel “Chris” Welch

Representative Robyn Gabel

This was the entirety of their response.… Continue Reading

Draining the Swamp Begins Here at Home

Written by James Blair

The 1912 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois Volume 2 describes Sangamon County, home of Springfield as the “…low swamp lands in Sangamon County, and the green coated stagnant ponds that stood from year to year, filling the atmosphere with so much malaria that almost every man, woman, and child in the county were more or less afflicted with chills and fever…”  Here in 2020 the physical swamp is gone, but a bureaucratic swamp remains stifling the growth of Illinois.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: 2019 Year in Review

Written by David E. Smith

As we prepare to greet a new year – and a new decade – it is fitting that we also take a look back at the issues and events that were at the heart of IFI’s work this year. Kathy Valente, IFI Director of Operations and Mary Nieves, IFI Development Officer, join the energetic Spotlight duo of David Smith and Monte Larrick for a recap of 2019. They discuss new, regressive legislation (specifically the legalization of recreational marijuana and extreme pro-abortion legislation), increased taxation, corruption, and ethics reform, as well as the success of the spring pro-life rally in Springfield and our very informative Worldview Conference on “Trans” Ideology.… Continue Reading

Will County GOP Board Member Running for Congress

Written by Steve Balich

Will County board member Mike Fricilone, a 65-year-old Homer Glen resident who works as a sales manager for a furniture retailer, recently filed his petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District. He will face two other Republicans in the March 17th primary election.

The district is located on the south and southwest side of Chicago and it’s suburbs, including Oak Lawn, Burbank, Summit, Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, Homer Glen, Orland Hills, Lockport and Lemont.… Continue Reading

Illinois Conservative Union Demands Voter Registration Records

Written by Jane Ryan Carrell

There’s exciting news for Illinois voters concerned about the integrity of our elections! A statewide organization, Illinois Conservative Union (ICU), has given notice to the state election authority that it must provide ICU a copy of the state voter rolls, or face a lawsuit.

ICU, an Illinois civic organization, contacted the Illinois State Board of Elections in July, requesting the Illinois voter list data file. The data file is required for analysis by the ICU Election Integrity Program to ensure that the state is conducting proper list maintenance as required by federal law.… Continue Reading