According to a poll, conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (pdf), support for the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Illinois is at an all time high of 43.6%, while support for civil unions is at 31.8%. Rich Miller of Capitol Fax writes:

So, the number of people who say gays should be allowed to marry is up ten points in just two years, while those opposing all recognition of gay unions has declined by over 6 points. The most recent poll’s margin of error is 2.77 points, so this is real movement.

That’s pretty amazing.

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The ACLU of Illinois' Peoria chapter teamed up with the local NAACP, league of Women Voters and elections officials to present a forum on tactics used to suppress voter turnout, and how people can ensure they are able to vote on election day. According to the Peoria JournalStar:

Both Peoria County Clerk Steve Sonnemaker and Peoria City Election Commission Executive Director Tom Bride urged voters to call their offices if they feel they've been intimidated at a polling place or unfairly kept from casting a ballot.

Election judges at all precincts also are supposed to have cell phones on hand to readily get questions answered from central election authorities if problems do arise, and the local chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have recruited poll watchers to be out on Election Day.

For the record, that's Nov. 6. For everybody.

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