On October 14, the Chicago City Council approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of LWV Chicago President Jane Ruby to a three-year term on the newly-established Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Advisory Council.
“I am deeply honored by this nomination, not least because it represents an opportunity to advance a cause to which I have devoted much of my life: ensuring that democracy is not merely a promise on paper, but a right that every eligible voter can exercise freely and without fear,” said Jane Ruby.
The Advisory Council is tasked with studying and advancing recommendations to expand voting access for Chicagoans and to strengthen participation in the democratic process while assessing policies and practices in areas including, but not limited to:
Accessibility of public infrastructure surrounding polling places;
Public education and resident outreach on voting rights and registration;
Barriers that prevent electoral participation;
Coordination between City departments and electoral authorities to support accessible voting;
Potential impacts of federal law enforcement activities near polling places;
Changes to state law or election administration practices.
Greater dialogue among community organizations, voters, and public officials regarding voting access.
The Advisory Council is to hold a number of public hearings and to submit an annual written report to the Mayor and the City Council detailing its findings and recommendations.
In addition to Jane Ruby, the following Mayoral appointees were approved by the City Council at its October 14 meeting:
DuShuan Branch who serves as Interim Executive Director of CHANGE Illinois, a nonpartisan organization that champions equitable democracy and ethics in government and elections throughout Illinois. He will serve a three-year term.
Stevie Valles, who is the CEO of Chicago Votes, a non-partisan organization that works to build a more inclusive democracy while increasing voter participation by young Chicagoans. Valles will serve a three-year term on the Council.
Breanna Champion, who is an organizer with the Chicago Black Voter Project, a non-partisan organization that works to increase voter turnout on the South and West Sides. She will serve a two-year term.
Christian Taylor, who serves as Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, a nonprofit organization that works to build power through collective advocacy and operates the largest volunteer poll-watching program in Illinois. His appointment to the Council will last two years.
Ellison Radek, who is a student at the University of Illinois Chicago studying public policy and Black studies. She also is a youth organizer who currently serves as a Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Chicago Votes. As one of the youth representatives on the Advisory Council, Radek will serve a one-year term.
Frank Lally, who is the Senior Policy Analyst at Access Living, a nonprofit that works on behalf of residents with disabilities, where he oversees the organizations voting and education policy portfolios. His appointment with last one year.
Sophia Franco, who is a student at Illinois State studying political science. She works with Citizen/Action Illinois as a youth voter participation canvasser. She will serve a one-year term.
One additional appointee is still to be approved. The Chicago Board of Elections will be invited to also name an ex officio member. The Advisory Council will be chaired by the Chief of Policy in the Mayor’s office.
The Advisory Council was established by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance, which passed this past May. The ordinance also prohibited disclosure of personal identifiable information of government workers, including election judges. The ordinance also requires the owner of a multi-unit residential building to provide secure mail receptacles.
“Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to building a Rainbow Coalition rooted in the belief that everyone deserves a voice in our democracy. These appointments honor that legacy by bringing together student organizers, experienced civic leaders, and voting rights champions from across Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “By connecting generations of leadership and bringing the work directly to the people most impacted, we can strengthen civic participation and ensure our democracy reflects the voices of every community on every side of our city. I want to congratulate these incredible leaders and thank them for their tireless commitment to our democracy and our neighbors.”