State constitution to be amended? Illinois waits to hear if the Workers' Rights Amendment passed

It appears the majority of Illinoisians are in favor, but there are still votes left to count.

Photo by Andrew Adams on Unsplash

(CHICAGO) The country is still waiting to hear about many close races from Election Day. One of the tight votes that remains too close to call is a closely watched Illinois ballot initiative.

The Workers’ Rights Amendment, or Amendment 1, is a measure that would amend the state constitution for workers seeking to unionize. And it would prohibit the state from passing "right-to-work" laws.

The current count is at 58%

Currently, on Thursday morning, November 10th, 88% of precincts have been reported.

You can follow election results live at NBC 5 Chicago. At the time of this writing, the measure stands with 58% "yes" votes.

Amending the Illinois constitution can get a bit complicated.

There are two ways the amendment can pass:

• With 60% (three-fifths) of those voting on the measure.
• A yes vote from the majority of those voting in the November election (even if they skip this question.)

What happens if the amendment passes?

A "Workers' Rights" section would be added to the Illinois Bill of Rights:

“Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety and work. No law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and work place safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment.”

When will we know what happens?

It could be a while. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois voters may not know the outcome of the vote until the election is certified on December 5th.

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More from Jennifer Geer

I'm a Chicago-based content writer covering local happenings in my area. You can follow me here on NewsBreak by using the "follow" button, located before and after this article on your phone or the left side menu on your computer.

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