Illinois

CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENTS IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Chicago recognizes that the more parents take an interest in their children’s education, the better off the community a a whole will be.  In 1988, the school code for Chicago was changed to allow all community residents and parents of children in schools, regardless of citizenship, to vote in school site council elections.  This is similar to the system in place in New York City from 1968 (implemented 1970) until 2003.

There is no overall school board in Chicago; administration is decentralized to more than 500 school site councils.

LEGISLATION
Under the portion of the Illinois school code that applies to cities of over 500,000 inhabitants:
§ 105 ILCS 5/34-2.1. Local School Councils — Composition — Voter-Eligibility — Elections — Terms
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(d)…(ii) Each elected member shall be elected by the eligible voters of that attendance center to serve for a two-year term commencing on July 1 immediately following the election described in subsection (c). Eligible voters for each attendance center shall consist of the parents and community residents for that attendance center.

ARTICLES
www.chronwatch.com
In Chicago, Non-Citizens Vote, Too
Written by Robert Klein Engler
Saturday, May 08, 2004

Chicago, the city infamous for it’s Democratic poll watchers who claim, ”I see dead people,” now has another distinction. In this city not only is it rumored that the dead vote, but in fact now non-citizens can vote. According to a Chicago Board of Education spokesperson, the school code, approved by the state legislature of Illinois allows non-citizens to vote in school council elections. A person must be 18 years of age, but no citizenship requirements apply in these elections. READ MORE