This is the first article in a series evaluating Andrew Chesney’s voting history. In this article, I will take a look at voting accessibility legislation that Chesney voted against and how it is consistent with his failure to support legislation that helps underprivileged groups in society. My researcher also finds that Chesney has voted against legislation that protects working-class white men, as well.
Republican attacks on voting rights and their attempts to disenfranchise minorities have sparked across the country since President Joe Biden’s victory. Our own community is no exception to these blatant assaults. Illinois State Representative Andrew Chesney (R) is not only responsible for voting against expanding voting rights, but also guilty of sponsoring a voter suppression bill.
Here is a brief history of Chesney voting against making voting more accessible. He voted against SB 2090, which expands access to voting in jails. He voted against SB 1970, which allows students to be excused for a 2-hour time period to vote, either on election day or within 15 days before. He voted against SB 1863, which expanded absentee voting for the 2020 general election. He also voted against HB 1871, which extended voting drop-boxes and curbside voting.
This pattern is not coincidental. The Republican Party thrives on low voter turnout, especially low minority voter turnout. Young people today are the most progressive and racially diverse voting block in the country. Thus, Chesney voted against making voting more accessible to students. Because individuals more concerned about Covid tend to be Democratic voters, it is no surprise that Chesney voted against making absentee voting more accessible.
On February 28, 2021, HB 2854 was introduced and sponsored by Andrew Chesney. While the bill contains reflections of the Trump administration’s claims to voter fraud, such as canceling dead peoples’ voter registration, it also amends the Election Code by canceling the voter registration of individuals who have not voted in two consecutive general federal elections. This would force inactive voters to go through the registration process all over again.
Chesney votes against expanding voting rights, just as he votes against protecting and expanding the rights of women and people of color. In 2019, Chesney voted against HB 3394, which requires at least one female director and one Black director to serve on corporate boards. He voted against HB 1613, which mandates police officers to keep records of race during traffic stops as a way to evaluate racial profiling. He voted against SB 1784, which requires school districts and universities to allow student-athletes to modify athletic uniforms for religious reasons (modifications include wearing a hijab, an undershirt, leggings, and other items). Despite Chesney’s support for a bill that would allow “In God We Trust” to be plastered in schools, he does not seem to be interested in protecting the rights of religious people in schools.
Perhaps most astonishingly of all, Chesney voted against HB 834, which requires employers to pay employees equally, regardless of race and sex. The bill also prohibits employers from forbidding employees from discussing their pay and benefits with one another. Thus, the bill protects and expands the rights of white men too. Despite that the bill received bipartisan support and protects all workers, equal pay was still too radical for Andrew Chesney. While voting against legislation that helps racial minorities is consistent with Chesney’s voting patterns, why would Chesney vote against a bill that helps white workers? As the son of Steven Chesney, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Seaga Manufacturing, Andrew Chesney has financial interests in voting against employee protection laws. He has received nearly $60,000 in campaign financing from his father, so he has no reason to support legislation that protects workers over corporate executives.
Chesney’s voting patterns reflect that he does not want voting made more accessible nor does he want to protect underprivileged members of society. Equal pay, religious rights, and voting accessibility are not political issues; they have been politicized by politicians, such as Andrew Chesney, who benefit at the expense of others.
Great job this information can be very important and helpful in the next election
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