Ranked Choice Voting Wins in Illinois!

Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and partner organizations, RCV is winning in Illinois! Check out this interactive map of the cities that have voted to use RCV for their elections:

2024

Oak Park

After years of building the movement in the community along with local groups, FairVote Illinois ran a petition drive to get a binding RCV referendum on the ballot.  Oak Park (pop. 52,055) voters approved the referendum with 79% voting yes!  This will switch the offices of village president and trustees to election by ranked choice voting.  Oak Park will also be the first in Illinois to use proportional ranked choice voting, for the multi-winner trustee offices.  Oak Park will use RCV beginning in April 2027.

Peoria Township

With the aid of local groups, an advisory ranked choice voting referendum for Peoria Township (pop. 95,511) was placed on the ballot.  Voters in Peoria Township voted 67% YES in response to the idea of Illinois using ranked choice voting for our elections.

2022

Berwyn

Berwyn (pop. 54,414) voters got to weigh in on an advisory referendum asking if they would like ranked choice voting for all statewide/federal elections in Illinois.  The voters delivered a resounding YES, voting 82% in favor of the idea of using RCV in Illinois.

Evanston

After lobbying the city council with the help of local groups to place a binding referendum on the ballot, Evanston (pop. 75,070) voters got to say if they would like to switch to ranked choice voting for their municipal elections, which include the offices of mayor, councilmembers, and city clerk.  Voters were excited about the change, approving the referendum with 82% in favor!  One of the main benefits for Evanston’s elections is the city will no longer need to run an earlier primary depending on how many candidates are on the ballot; only one election is needed.  Evanston will use RCV beginning in April 2025.