LWV Chicago President Jane Ruby Appointed to City Advisory Council
On October 14, the Chicago City Council confirmed Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointments to the Fair Access to Democracy Advisory Council, which will assist the City in analyzing and implementing policies and procedures aimed at protecting Chicagoans’ voting rights and ballot access in the city. LWV Chicago President Jane Ruby was named as one of the appointees.
“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.
Established by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Fair Access to Democracy Ordinance, the Advisory Council is tasked with studying and advancing recommendations to expand voting access for Chicagoans and 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.
In addition to Jane Ruby, the inaugural council will be composed of DuShuan Branch, Stevie Valles, Breanna Champion, Christian Taylor, Ellison Radek, Frank Lally, and Sophia Franco. The appointees will be joined by an invited member of Advisory Council of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office Chief of Policy, who will serve as the Council’s chair. The Advisory Council will submit an annual written report to the Mayor and the City Council detailing its findings and recommendations.
“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.”
