ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - While a number of constitutional amendments will be on Missouri's statewide ballot in the fall, voters will have several non-binding referendums to weigh in on across the state line.
Several non-binding referendums on the Illinois statewide ballot in November, including insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization treatments, and civil penalties for those who interfere with election workers.
"We'd like to gauge the voter's feelings on these matters and advisory referendum is a way to do that," said Illinois State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville)
One of the key questions votes will be asked include if a tax should be imposed on income over $1 million, with the money going to property tax relief.
"In the past, we've talked about a surcharge on tax of income that's greater than $1 million, but here we would tie it to property tax relief," said Hoffman. "So it basically would be an advisory referendum that would ask whether we would have a surcharge on income greater than $1 million."
Hoffman discussed the topic of election security, particularly the need to protect election workers from abuse and while there are already criminal penalties, he believes there also should be civil penalties too.
"All you have to do is see the news and, and see certain individuals are blaming election officials for outcomes of the election and are targeting them and their families," said Hoffman. "These are individuals who get paid very little and basically volunteer their time to consider the poll invoices and count ballots. They shouldn't be ostracized. Their families shouldn't be threatened."
Hoffman says these advisory questions give lawmakers an opportunity to see where the voting public stands on these issues.
"These are advisory in nature. And the reason they're advisory is they really don't rise to the level of a constitutional change." said Hoffman. "These would be ultimately statutory changes if indeed the people of Illinois vote in favor of them."