World News – US – Tax issue, Senate, House races on Illinois ballot

CHICAGO (AP) – More than 35 million Illinois residents have already voted before polling opens on Tuesday, a surge due to the coronavirus pandemic

Voters weigh in on President, contender US Home Races, Legislative Contests, Income Tax Constitutional Amendment Proposal and more

Votes cast before election day hit record highs About half were by mail, which could slow down when results are available

Ballot papers must be postmarked no later than Nov 3 and must arrive before November 17 onwards

This year, the new legislation required that candidatures be sent by mail to anyone who recently voted in the elections. Around 65 million candidatures were sent

At the top of the ballot is a proposed constitutional amendment in Illinois changing the state’s flat-rate income tax to a progressive income tax that levies a higher percentage on wealthy residents. allows first-term Democratic government JB Pritzker and the state Democrat-controlled legislature to tackle billions of dollars in state debt

State flat tax is currently 495% for individual payers Approval of an amendment to the Illinois Constitution requires approval by a three-fifths majority, or 60% of all who vote on the question

No. 2 Democrat Durbin set to win reelection easily Candidates vying to replace him in Illinois’s only race are former Lake County Republican Sheriff Mark Curran; wealthy Chicago businessman Willie Wilson, under his own party; Green Party candidate David Black; and libertarian Danny Malouf

Republican Rodney Davis is on the hunt for a fifth term and faces a daunting challenge from Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan

This is the second clash for the candidates after Davis narrowly won against Londrigan in 2018 by less than a percentage point. GOP heavy territory covers a swath of central and southwestern Illinois, including farmland, universities and the Illinois suburb of St. Louis

Davis, who first took office in 2013, has tried to present himself as someone who can work with Democrats, touting his efforts on farm bills and transportation projects Londrigan, from Springfield, has targeted Davis’ opposition to the Affordable Care Act

Democratic Representative Sean Casten is seeking a second term with a challenge from Republican Jeanne Ives in historically GOP territory outside of Chicago

Downers Grove businessman and scientist Casten overturned the siege two years ago Casten praised his experience as a scientist in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic

Former state lawmaker Ives is a social and tax conservative for Wheaton She argues that Casten is not a good fit for the neighborhood spanning the northern and northwestern suburbs of Chicago

Democrat Marie Newman and Republican Mike Fricilone are running to replace Representative Dan Lipinski, an eight-term Democrat ousted in the primary

This is the first time in more than three decades that there will be no Lipinski in the seat The outgoing MP, considered among the most conservative in the House, was predeceased by his father, Bill Lipinski

Newman, of La Grange, has far surpassed Fricilone and has name recognition based on an unsuccessful attempt for the seat in 2018 Fricilone, who works in sales and lives in Homer Glen, is a member of Will County Council

DISTRICT 14: Representative Lauren Underwood, a Democrat, seeks second term against GOP state Sen Jim Oberweis in longtime Republican neighborhood in the Chicago area

DISTRICT 15: Republican Mary Miller and Democrat Erika Weaver clash for the seat left open by retired Republican John Shimkus The district covers much of Southeastern Illinois, running along a section of the border with Indiana

DISTRICT 17: Rep. Cheri Bustos, the chair of the Democratic Congress campaign committee, faces an animated challenge from Esther Joy King, a lawyer and army reserve captain of East Moline Bustos, Moline , seeks fifth term in Northwestern Illinois Territory

ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT: While judges’ retention votes aren’t often controversial, an effort to start Illinois Supreme Court Judge Thomas Kilbride has attracted millions of dollars He’s part of Democratic majority in court Voters in north-central Illinois will decide whether to get a third 10-year term

Republican Party, candidate, Democratic Party, United States House of Representatives, Ed Markey, Ballot, Massachusetts