Springfield, Illinois, Ranked-Choice Voting for Military and Overseas Voters Measure (April 2007)

Springfield Ranked-Choice Voting Measure
Election date April 17, 2007
Topic Local electoral systems
Status Approved
Type Referral

Springfield Ranked-Choice Voting Measure was on the ballot as a referral in Springfield on April 17, 2007. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for military and overseas voters in municipal elections.

A "no" vote opposed adopting ranked-choice voting (RCV) for military and overseas voters in municipal elections.

Election results

Springfield Ranked-Choice Voting Measure
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		23,440	91.01%
No		2,314	8.99%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Background

Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

See also: Ranked-choice voting (RCV)

The ballot measure has played a role in shaping electoral systems in the U.S., including ranked-choice voting (RCV) for state and local elections.

Since 1915, there have been more than 150 ballot measures to adopt or repeal ranked-choice voting systems. Ashtabula, Ohio, was the first jurisdiction to approve a ranked-choice voting measure in 1915.

RCV is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates on their ballots. RCV can be used for single-winner elections or multi-winner elections; when used for multi-winner elections, the system has also been called single-transferable vote or proportional representation. These terms were often used to describe multi-winner RCV before the 1970s. You can learn more about ranked-choice voting systems and policies here.

Local RCV ballot measures

See also: History of ranked-choice voting (RCV) ballot measures

Between 1965 and October 2025, 80 ranked-choice voting (RCV) local ballot measures were on the ballot in 59 jurisdictions in 19 states.

• Ballotpedia has located 72 local ballot measures to adopt RCV. Voters approved 57 (79.2%) and rejected 15 (20.8%).

• There were eight local ballot measures to repeal RCV. Voters approved four (50.0%) and rejected four (50.0%).

• The year with the most local RCV ballot measures was 2022, when nine were on the ballot in nine jurisdictions. Voters approved seven of them.

• The state with the most local ballot measures related to RCV is California, where there have been 13.

The following table shows the number of ranked-choice voting measures by policy direction.

Local ranked-choice vote measures by policy direction and outcome, 1965 - October 2025

Direction	Total	Approved	Approved (%)	Defeated	Defeated (%)
Adopt RCV	72	57	79.2%	15	20.8%
Repeal RCV	8	4	50.0%	4	50.0%
Total	80	61	76.3%	19	23.7%

Path to the ballot

This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the Springfield City Council.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Illinois

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Illinois.

How to vote in Illinois

Poll times

In Illinois, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Illinois, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of an Illinois precinct for at least 30 days prior to election day, and at least 18 years old by Election Day. A 17-year-old may vote in a primary if he or she will be 18 years old at the subsequent general election. Preregistration is available starting at age 16.

Regular registration closes during the period beginning 27 days prior to an election. Online registration closes 16 days prior to an election. Grace period registration is available in person through Election Day at certain locations.

Prospective voters can register online, by mail, or at any of the following locations:

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County Clerk's Office Board of Election Commissioner's Office City and Village Offices Township Offices Precinct Committeeman Schools Public Libraries Military Recruitment Offices

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Two forms of identification are required to register in person, one of which must display the voter's current address. Eligible forms of ID include but are not limited to driver's license, bank statement, residence contract or lease, utility bill, or state identification card number.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Illinois automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and other designated automatic voter registration agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Illinois has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Illinois allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Illinois law requires individuals to reside "in this State and in the election district 30 days next preceding any election" to be eligible to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Illinois does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Registration Lookup page, run by the Illinois Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Illinois does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. Pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, first-time voters who registered by mail and did not submit their driver’s license number, state ID number, last four digits of their social security number, or other form of ID are required to present identification showing their name and address before voting.

The following list of accepted ID was current as of December 2025.Click here for the Illinois State Board of Elections voting information page to ensure you have the most current information.

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At least one form of ID showing your current address is needed. These may include but are not limited to: drivers license bank statement residence contract/lease utility bill State identification card number

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See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2007
• Local electoral systems ballot measures

Illinois

• Illinois 2007 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Illinois
• Springfield, Illinois

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas