CONTACT:
Gwen Pepin
[email protected]
Chicago, IL – As voters across Illinois line up today to cast their first votes in the 2024 general election, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) continues its work across the state to empower Illinoisans through voter protection and education, as well as deliver down-ballot wins through the Party’s coordinated campaign, Organize Illinois.
“Early voting is underway and DPI remains laser-focused on ensuring Illinois voters are informed and are able to easily and securely have their voices heard,” said DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez. “DPI is deeply committed to helping counties have a secure election process.”
To underscore that commitment, DPI has:
- Officially re-opened our voter protection hotline at (855) 458-6837 and email at [email protected] to directly assist voters across Illinois if they face hurdles while trying to cast their ballots.
- Developed voter protection materials in both English and Spanish that include information on voter registration, absentee ballot requests and where to vote.
The first day of early voting also adds momentum to the work the Party is already doing to fire up its regional campaign blueprint across Illinois. The Party’s coordinated campaign Organize Illinois, launched in July and is helping support Democratic federal, state and local candidates, mobilize voters, and engage communities around the issues that matter most to hard-working Illinoisans.
“What we value most—our freedoms—are on the ballot and our vote is our voice,” said Hernandez. “From the smallest, rural towns to the largest metro areas, DPI is focusing its organizational energy to mobilize voters across every region. Organize Illinois reflects our party’s dedication to a statewide presence.”
The Democratic Party of Illinois plans to engage as many Illinois voters as possible. Since the launch of Organize Illinois, DPI has and continues to:
- Coordinated over 50 events in key areas across the state to ensure all of Illinois is prepared to vote and win this November.
- Opened 12 satellite offices statewide to work directly with communities for a brighter future.
- Hired a coordinated organizing team of 14 dedicated staff.
- Coordinate Weekends of Action (10/12-13 and 10/19-20) throughout the state to engage voters.
- Host weekly and biweekly virtual regional meetings, where candidates and campaign teams receive direct assistance from the Party.
- Assist more than 115 targeted down-ballot candidates with voter contact and turnout, supplementing candidates’ efforts with mail, digital and SMS investments.
“Organize Illinois is a continuation of our blueprint to help Democrats win at every level. And it doesn’t stop here–we’re already looking at municipal candidate recruitment to help Dems win in 2025,” said Chair Hernandez.
In August, the Party and the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) announced Run Local Illinois, a statewide candidate recruitment and training program to build a bench of diverse Illinoisans interested in running for local municipal offices. Last year, DPI coordinated a successful program to elect pragmatic community advocates to school and library boards in an effort to defeat extremist right wing candidates and to build local momentum.
