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Journal Star reporter JJ Bullock writes about local government, politics and business in and around Peoria.
Voters in Peoria Township will see a non-binding question on the November ballot regarding Illinois state law and Israel.The referendum asks if Illinois congressional members should support repealing a state law that penalizes businesses from boycotting Israel.The question contains an error, as federal congressional members cannot change state law.
PEORIA — A question regarding Israel and its relationship to Illinois state law will appear on voters’ ballots in the township of Peoria.
On Tuesday night, tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza once again took center stage at Peoria City Hall as more than 100 people showed up to debate whether or not a non-binding ballot question should be presented to voters in Peoria Township regarding Illinois state law and Israel.
The question itself seeks to change — or at least encourage lawmakers to change — a state law that prevents Illinois pension systems from investing in companies that divest or boycott Israel.
Those in attendance Tuesday night ultimately voted to place the question on ballots for the Nov. 3 elections after yet another spirited debate in Peoria about Israel’s actions and the violence that has been levied in Gaza since a new conflict broke out in October 2023.
However, an error in the question, which cannot be changed after it is submitted, presents an issue for the referendum.
The question presented Tuesday night, which will appear on ballots, reads: “Shall the Illinois Congressional members who represent Peoria Township vote to support the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act (HB 2723/SB2462), which would repeal amendments to the Illinois pension code that penalize American businesses that choose to boycott Israel?”
The error, which was pointed out by the Peoria Township attorney and City Councilmembers John Kelly and Tim Riggenbach, lies in the invocation of “Illinois Congressional members” in the question. Congress works in Washington, D.C., and controls federal law, not state law. Illinois’ congressional members, even if they wanted to, could not do what this ballot referendum asks.
The petitioners Tuesday night acknowledged that they meant to word the question as “state lawmakers” rather than congressional members, but the question could not be changed after it was submitted.
A spokesman for the referendum said he hoped and expected voters would still cast their ballots in the spirit of what it is asking despite the error.
However, for voters such as Riggenbach, the error was too much to look past as it does present a question to voters that does not make sense. Riggenbach said he would have liked to support the measure but said it “doesn’t make sense the way it is presented.”
Kelly, too, was critical of the error, saying it would make Peoria “look silly,” given the question didn’t make sense. Kelly, however, said he would have likely opposed the measure regardless.
For those who supported the ballot question, the error was a moot point compared to the “genocide” and “slaughter” of the people of Gaza.
The death toll in Gaza now exceeds 70,000, according to estimates from the Gaza Health Ministry, a figure that was accepted by the Israeli military as accurate. A United Nations commission has accused Israel of conducting a genocide in Gaza.