Early voting opened in parts of Illinois last week.  

Illinois voters will be asked to weigh in on three issues this fall when they cast their ballots after the General Assembly approved advisory referendums to guide future policy decisions.  

Former Gov. Pat Quinn speaks to the House Revenue and Finance Committee in Chicago on Thursday. [Blue Room Stream] 

A former governor and a pair of Cook County officials called on Illinois lawmakers to advance mechanisms next spring to reduce property taxes for Illinois residents. 

Illinois’ sign is picture at the Democratic National Convention. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

Illinois voters can begin casting ballots Thursday in an election year where much of voters’ focus is on the presidential contest at the top of ticket. At the Democratic Party of Illinois, the goal is also to ensure Democratic candidates further down the ballot find success amid noise generated by the presidential contest. 

Gov. JB Pritzker was asked to weigh in on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez to resign. And the state’s largest retail association said lawmakers’ decision to eliminate credit card fees on sales taxes and tips is popular with voters.  

The Illinois Capitol  

Illinois’ public universities have a major problem with deferred maintenance and executing capital projects, university presidents and officials told a House committee on Monday. 

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a Politico event in Chicago during the DNC. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

Between the economy, future of the presidency and abortion, voters in Illinois and around the country have heard from political candidates about what should be this election’s most important issue.  

Setting the agenda for Illinois Democrats at a fundraiser Monday, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said abortion is a political issue that affects the rest. 

A pair of Democratic lawmakers are asking for Gov. JB Pritzker’s help to ensure Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson follows a new state law helping to start a new Chicago police district. And the Illinois Department of Transportation received new money from the federal government for Chicago-area projects.  

The House Judiciary- Criminal Committee meets on the final day of session in May. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Plans to make a series of reforms to the Prisoner Review Board remain on hold after a bill was held up late in the session following opposition from Gov. JB Pritzker.  

The Illinois Supreme Court   

Plaintiffs seeking to invalidate Illinois gun owner identification law lacked standing on their case, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday as they tossed out the challenge while declining to rule on the merits of the law.  

Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. [Lake County, IL Government/Facebook]

While many suburban officials have pushed back on plans to consolidate Chicago-area public transportation agencies in a governing structure that includes more Cook County representatives, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said she believes it makes sense to defer most representation to the state’s largest county and user of public transit.