She Votes Illinois

10/22/2026

Struggling to keep up with your water bill? You’re not alone. When water bills become unaffordable, families are often forced to choose between paying for water, food, medicine, and other essentials.

Join SOUL Chicago on Saturday, October 24, to share your experiences, learn about the Water-for-All ordinance, and discuss how to make water bills affordable for Chicago residents.

📅 Saturday, October 24 at 11AM
📍 TEN3 Event Space, 619 E. 103rd St., Chicago

RSVP here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/water-for-all-community-conversation

If you or someone you know is struggling with unaffordable water bills then come talk with us Saturday October, 24th at 11am. We'll be at TEN3 Event Space located at 619 East 103rd Street. We’ll be discussing how we can achieve affordable water billing for all Chicago residents and what you can do...

10/22/2026

Our co-founder Maureen Keane was pleased to serve as a panelist alongside Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon last night at Northwestern University for a Women In Politics panel discussion hosted by the student-led club Menstrual Equity Activists.

We're helping young people see what civic engagement looks like in practice, and in hearing directly from women leaders whose experiences can help them envision their own paths to making a difference.

We look forward to continue our support of the next generation of civic leaders to advance a more equitable future.



Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon

10/21/2026

⚠️ Important Notice for Vote-by-Mail Voters

Mail postmark rules have changed. Ballots are now postmarked when processed, not when you drop them in the mailbox. This can cause a 1–2 day delay and risk your ballot not being counted.

If you’re returning your ballot close to Election Day:
✔️ Request a manual postmark at the post office counter
✔️ Use a secure drop box
✔️ Deliver directly to your election office

Don’t risk a late postmark. Make sure your vote counts.

10/21/2026

Did you know child marriage is still legal in Illinois?

A new New York Times opinion piece by Nicholas Kristof highlights a hard truth: while many states are moving to protect children, child marriage remains legal in Illinois, and surprisingly, local progressive groups including the ACLU of Illinois, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, and Illinois NOW have been opposing efforts to ban it.

At She Votes Illinois, we value our broader partnerships with the ACLU and Planned Parenthood on reproductive rights and other vital issues. But on this human rights issue, we strongly disagree. Banning marriage for minors does not remove a child's right to make an independent decision; rather, it prevents adults from arranging or forcing a marriage before a young person reaches adulthood. The reality is that child marriage strips young people, especially girls, of their education, safety, and future.

Illinois must follow California’s lead and ban child marriage once and for all.

📞 Take Action: Contact your IL state lawmakers today and tell them you want Illinois to ban child marriage, no exceptions!

🔗 Read the full NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/opinion/child-marriage-legal-us.html

Unchained At Last

10/20/2026

Want to know how to have a greater voice in Chicago’s local government & your community?

City Civics Day brings residents, community organizations, and City officials together to explore ways to get involved and create change in their communities.

📅 Saturday, November 14 | 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍 Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
🎟️ Free!

Learn more and register here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/city-civics-day/home.html

10/20/2026

Disabled women earn just 56 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled men with disabled women of color facing the widest disparities due to intersecting sexism, racism, and ableism.

Pay equity requires dismantling systemic barriers, ending sub-minimum wage traps, and guaranteeing accessible workplaces.

Take Action Today:
👉 Demand policy reforms that protect disabled workers.
👉 Push your workplace for transparent pay and full accessibility.
👉 Share this post to break the silence on the disability wage gap.

10/19/2026

Menopause treatment has come a long way. Updated clinical guidelines reflect a broader range of options for managing symptoms, from hormone therapy to newer nonhormonal medications.

What does the latest research mean for people navigating menopause? NPR breaks down what’s changed and what to discuss with your healthcare provider.

https://www.npr.org/2026/10/16/nx-s1-6005201/health-treatment-menopause-hot-flash-night-sweats-insomnia

For the first time since 2014, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has updated its guidelines for the treatment of symptoms commonly associated with menopause.

10/19/2026

📣 Our Latest Nation Watch Biweekly is Live!

We’re breaking down the top national headlines you need to know, from mounting cuts to Medicaid closing maternity wards to rising health insurance costs in states with post-Dobbs abortion bans, and federal warnings targeting state election officials.

Plus, don’t miss our Recent Wins! Read the full recap here:

Recapping the top national developments you should know

10/19/2026

📣 Extended Early Voting begins TODAY, Monday, October 19 across all 50 Chicago wards and at all 56 suburban Cook County locations!

All sites will have Secure Drop Boxes ready for your Vote By Mail ballot.

Same Day Registration is available at all Early Voting sites. You will need two forms of ID, one with your current address.

For more info on early voting locations, what’s on your ballot, and creating a plan to vote, check out our Voting Info Guide at shevotesil.org/your-vote-matters.html

10/18/2026

Join Northwestern's Menstrual Equity Activists, in collaboration with She Votes Illinois, for “Women in Politics: Journeys, Barriers, & Student Engagement on Wednesday, October 21st at Northwestern University.

Come hear directly from trailblazing elected officials as they share their personal stories of moving from everyday citizens to public office. Our panelists will discuss the real barriers they faced, the issues that matter most to women today, and what it takes to step into civic leadership.

Whether you are looking to run for office one day or simply want to make a difference in your community, join us to connect, get inspired, and get ready to vote in this upcoming November election!

Register today at https://bit.ly/WomenInPoliticsMEA1021



Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon Josina Morita, Cook County Commissioner, 13th District