A tabulation machine reflects a counted ballot during the public testing of tabulation machines at the Lake County Clerk’s Office Tuesday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Unfounded election conspiracies continue to swirl throughout the country as candidates cast doubt on the validity of election processes, but Illinois’ election process contains many safeguards and procedures that make rigging an election virtually impossible.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza, left, and McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi, right.

Multiple credit upgrades, on-time bill payments and investments into pensions and the “rainy day” fund have given Comptroller Susana Mendoza a lot to run on after nearly six years as the state’s chief financial officer.

“I think our message here, what I’ve been able to deliver for Illinois, is a message that all Democrats across the country should be trying to emulate and talk about because this is the message: it’s the Democratic Party here in Illinois that has turned around the state’s financial ship,” Mendoza told The Daily Line.

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii speaks at a rally for Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) in Glen Ellyn Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

With a week before polls close on Election Day, Republican nominee for governor Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) grabbed assistance from former Democrat and presidential contender Tulsi Gabbard at a rally in Glen Ellyn Monday.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), right, speaks with union members in Joliet Friday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Support for Amendment 1, also known as the Workers’ Rights Amendment, extends up to Illinois’ federal representatives who believe passing the amendment would boost the state’s competitiveness in the nation’s economy.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), left, and Republican challenger Kathy Salvi, right, participate in a debate Thursday night. [WTTW/Chicago Tonight]

Sen. Tammy Duckworth appears to hold a strong lead over Republican challenger Kathy Salvi as the candidates for U.S. Senate shared a stage Thursday night and showed off their differences.

Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) left, and Democratic challenger Maria Peterson of North Barrington, right.

Democrats have their eye on Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie’s (R-Hawthorn Woods) seat as challenger Maria Peterson of North Barrington makes a final push with an aggressive mailing campaign and new TV ad. The pair also engaged in a tense debate Wednesday night.

Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago Thursday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

State lawmakers will return to Springfield in less than three weeks for the fall session and are expected to consider a number of issues, including legislation in response to the end of Roe v. Wade after a promised special session on the issue never materialized.

Democratic House District 62 candidate Laura Faver Dias of Grayslake speaks at a rally in Grayslake Wednesday with Supreme Court candidate Judge Elizabeth Rochford and Gov. JB Pritzker. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Multiple races in Lake County are garnering attention from the state’s political leaders as Republicans hope to pick up House seats in the county to reduce the Democrats’ super majority in the General Assembly.

Lake County is also included in the competitive state Supreme Court race between Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford (D-Lake Forest) and former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran.

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, speaks at a rally in Waukegan Wednesday alongside Lake County Democratic State Central Committee member Lauren Beth Gash. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

A new WGN/Emerson College poll released Wednesday shows gaps between Republican and Democratic candidates have tightened in recent weeks, but Democrats still hold leads in all races.

Democrat Eric Sorensen speaks at a news conference in Rock Island Tuesday with Gov. JB Pritzker. [JB for Governor]

In a race that could determine the balance of the U.S. House, Gov. JB Pritzker stumped for Democrat Eric Sorensen in the 17th Congressional District Tuesday leaning on his familiar message pushing abortion rights.

Connie Cain of Gilberts, left, and Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) are running in the 66th House District.

Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) is asking voters for a second term in the House even as Republicans are eyeing her seat as an opportunity to take a seat away from the Democrats’ super majority in the House.

Illinois AFL-CIO Secretary and Treasurer Pat Devaney speaks at a news conference in Chicago Monday. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

First responder unions are calling attention to the benefits they believe their members and the public will receive if Amendment 1, also known as the Workers Rights Amendment, is approved by voters next month.

Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), left, and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, right, are running for secretary of state.

For the first time in over 20 years, the race for Illinois secretary of state features two new candidates in Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) who hopes to advance his political career and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias who is running for office for the first time in 12 years.

Chicago Police Supt. David Brown is pictured. [Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago] 

Chicago Police Department Supt. David Brown said Friday during a City Council budget hearing for the department he wants state lawmakers to amend the SAFE-T Act to prevent violent offenders from being released on electronic monitoring while they await trail.

Ads attacking or supporting candidates for the Illinois Supreme Court.

If it feels like TV advertising in the Illinois Supreme Court races is at levels it’s never been at before, that’s because it is, according to research from the Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks TV advertising in state Supreme Court races around the country.

Gov. JB Pritzker visits Mid-America Carpenters Union in Elk Grove Village earlier this year. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

The first question voters will see on their ballot this November is a proposed constitutional amendment that would make collective bargaining a constitutional right in Illinois, effectively outlawing right-to-work laws that have been passed in other states.

Gov. JB Pritzker, left, and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), right, participate in a debate at WGN’s studios in Chicago Tuesday. [WGN-TV] 

Three weeks before election night, Gov. JB Pritzker and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) met for a final televised debate to make one more pitch to voters and show case their starkly different candidacies.

Left, Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) and Gov. JB Pritzker, right.

It’s no secret Republicans struggle to raise money in blue Illinois and financial reports by campaigns and political organizations detailing their summer fundraising and spending period show Democrats continue to hold the upper hand.

Treasurer Mike Frerichs, left, and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), right, are competing for treasurer in November.

The treasurer’s race gets little attention, but the battle between House Republican budget leader Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) and incumbent Democratic Treasurer Mike Frerichs is intense as they ask voters to trust them with the state’s investments.

Cook County Jail

Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act, the component of the SAFE-T Act that ends cash bail, is set to take effect in about two-and-a-half months. The law has been the focus of partisan disputes this election season since it was passed in January 2021 as opponents call for its repeal while its framers try to sell its benefits.