With a population the size of Skokie’s, electoral districts ensure that elected officials truly know the area and people they represent and thus can better respond to residents’ needs and concerns. These Trustees represent and answer to their neighbors. District representation also makes it easier for voters and candidates to interact during campaigns.

Since Skokie was incorporated in 1888 (originally as “Niles Center”), all Village Trustees have been elected at-large, representing the entire community as opposed to specific districts. Yet, since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, hundreds of cities, towns, and villages across the country have switched from at-large to district-based elections, since at-large systems often obstruct BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) representation. It is worth noting that Skokie did not elect its first Person of Color to the Village Board until 2008. Similarly, our previous system provided no guarantee of geographical representation within the community, which is why the west and south parts of Skokie have been historically underrepresented on the Village Board.

Having to campaign across all of Skokie, with its population of 67,000+ residents, is time-consuming and expensive, creating a barrier for candidates who don’t have the money or political connections to run such a large campaign. By allowing candidates to run in smaller, local districts, it is easier for a larger, more diverse group of candidates to participate.

In a hybrid system, Skokie residents still elect 2 at-large Trustees along with the 4 district Trustees. This ensures that the Village Board still offers both a Village-wide perspective while also providing more locally focused viewpoints. A hybrid system balances the “best of both worlds” for Skokie voters.