ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Voters can now safely cast their ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a new elections package supported by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that was signed into law.

“All citizens have a right to participate in our democracy without fear,” Gillespie said. “Given the public health challenges we face, expanding our vote by mail program will allow citizens to exercise their democratic rights without compromising their health.”

Senate Bill 1863 will expand the state’s vote by mail program by sending any person who voted in the past two years an application for a ballot in their mailbox. Voters who aren’t sent an application in the mail will have the opportunity to register to vote by mail online. Election Day of this year will also be made a state holiday so schools can be used as polling places without putting students at increased risk for COVID-19. All provisions in this legislation apply to the 2020 General Election only.

Senate Bill 1863 was signed into law on Tuesday and is effective immediately.

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago), along with the Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White, wants to announce the 16th annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award.

“This competition is a great way for the talented residents of Illinois to show off their work,” Martwick said. “These artists work hard to create thoughtful and beautiful work, and Illinois would like to help give them recognition and publicity.”

The competition is named in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks and is co-sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book. The competition to recognize new literary talent in the state is open to Illinois residents age 18 and older and has an entry deadline of June 30. To submit an entry, please visit the link here.

The award for first place is $500, second place is $300 and third place is $100. Winning poems will also be submitted for possible publication in Illinois literary magazines, including “Ninth Letter,” “Quiddity” and “RHINO Poetry.”

For more information, contact Illinois Center for the Book Coordinator Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is calling on healthy, eligible African-Americans in Illinois to help replenish the state’s blood supply, which is declining rapidly due to blood drive cancellations at businesses, churches and schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

African-American blood donors are particularly needed to help patients battling sickle cell disease amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sickle cell patients are at high risk of serious complications from coronavirus infection.

“For the black community, this is another layer to our public health emergency. Sickle cell disease tends to affect African-American communities, which are disproportionately suffering from COVID-19 and already lack equal access to preventative health care and treatment,” Hunter said. “Even one donation could save the life of someone in our community.”

Red Cross blood centers have seen donations by African-Americans drop by more than 50% since the novel coronavirus outbreak began in March. Patients with sickle cell disease depend on transfusions from donors with closely matched blood – beyond the A, B, O and AB types – to reduce the risk of complications. According to the American Red Cross, each donation center is required to follow the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance.

“This is a matter of life or death for patients with sickle cell disease and those who rely on transfusions to make it through surgery,” Hunter said. “Now is the time to support our neighbors. I strongly encourage all healthy, able Chicagoans to step up and help fill this void.”

Many blood centers throughout the state have extended their operating hours to meet the critical need for donations. To make an appointment to donate blood with the Red Cross, residents can visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) joins Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White to announce the 16th annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award.

“This is a great opportunity for talented writers to showcase their creative writing,” Bennett said. “Winning can bring emerging poets recognition and generate valuable publicity.”

The competition is named in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning Illinois Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks and is co-sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book. The competition to recognize new literary talent in the state is open to Illinois residents age 18 and older and has an entry deadline of June 30. To submit an entry, please visit the link here.

The award for first place is $500, second place is $300 and third place is $100. Winning poems will also be submitted for possible publication in Illinois literary magazines, including: “Ninth Letter,” “Quiddity” and “RHINO Poetry.”

For more information, contact Illinois Center for the Book Coordinator Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

CHICAGO – State Senator Heather Steans issued the following statement on news the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of extending Title VII employment protections to LGBT workers:

“This decision represents long-overdue acknowledgment that LGBT people deserve protection against arbitrary discrimination on the job,” Steans said. “I hope this decision also serves as the basis to undercut the president’s cruel move last week to deny trans Americans the right to medical care. This decision is justice for the LGBT community.”

The Supreme Court’s decision applies to two sets of cases. One involved a pair of lawsuits from gay men alleging they were fired because of their sexual orientation, and the other involved a suit from a transgender woman, Aimee Stephens, who alleged she was fired when she revealed her gender identity to her employers.

The ruling explicitly establishes that workplace discrimination against LGBT people violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a conclusion first drawn by federal courts in Chicago and New York.

“In Title VII, Congress adopted broad language making it illegal for an employer to rely on an employee's sex when deciding to fire that employee,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in his ruling for the majority. “We do not hesitate to recognize today a necessary consequence of that legislative choice: An employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender defies the law.”

WESTERN SPRINGS – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) reminded taxpayers that state individual income tax returns and payments are due July 15.

“The state has extended its income tax deadlines to help working families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Glowiak Hilton said. “This extension has hopefully allowed taxpayers to take the time they need to recuperate after unexpected losses in revenue.”

Those who have yet to file their 2019 state individual income tax returns must act by July 15 to avoid penalties and interest. The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) estimates that 81% of state individual income tax returns have already been filed as of this week. IDOR recommends that individuals file their taxes online at www.MyTax.illinois.gov.

While IDOR offices are closed to the public, they can be reached online at tax.illinois.gov or by phone at 800-732-8866 to answer any questions.

MARYVILLE — Recognizing the lasting, devastating financial effects the COVID-19 pandemic could have on working families, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) joined lawmakers Monday to announce state funds being made available to help residents directly with their utility bills and to confront the root causes of poverty.

“This pandemic has been difficult for so many people. The last thing residents need to worry about is keeping the lights on,” Crowe said. “By investing funds in the LIHEAP program, Illinois is committed to supporting working families struggling to make ends meet.”