Shelby County, IL Democracy by Zipcode

How to Vote in Illinois

Find out how to confirm your voter registration and register to vote wherever you are.

How to Confirm or Update Your Voter Registration in Illinois

If you've moved or haven’t voted in a while, your state can cancel your voter registration. Here's how to update your registration so you can vote.

Was My Vote Counted? How to Track Your Vote in Illinois

Many states offer online ballot tracking systems, others require contacting election officials. in either case, it's a good idea to confirm that your vote was actually counted.

What Are the Laws About Poll Observers and Vote Challenges in Illinois?

With the upcoming election, there has been much discussion about voter fraud and how much security there is in our vote. Here is the law for your state regarding challenging votes, and having observers at the polls.

What's On the Shelby County, IL ballot in the next election?

Use these internet websites and generative AI to find what's on your local ballot, at all levels of government, and how to register.

Is Illinois Gerrymandered? Who Draws The Voting Districts in Illinois?

As of 2022 midterm elections approach, here's how redistricting is going. From “cracking” to “packing” we help you understand the tools of gerrymandering and the extent to which it happens in Illinois.

Purges Will Deprive 16.7 Million of their Right To Vote in 2020

Greg Palast, voter suppression expert, says the data shows that 16 million people will have their votes purged, unless they keep their registration confirmed.

Illinois Legislator List

Here's how to find a list of your state legislators.

Shelby County, IL Elected Representatives

How to Call Your Congressional Representative in Shelby County, IL

Here's how to call your elected officials to let them know how you feel about the issues of the day.

Did My Representative Vote to Overturn the 2020 Election?

147 Republicans Voted to Overturn Election Results and deny Americans the right to have their votes counted, based on the disproven myth that there was outcome-determinative fraud in the 2020 election. Use generative AI to learn how your representative voted.

Who Are Your State Representatives in Illinois’s Legislature?

Just like Washington D.C., your state government has a legislature, too. Here's how to find the people who represent you in Illinois.

Shelby County Government

Who Runs the Police Force & Sheriff’s Office in Shelbyville, Illinois, and Shelby County?

Who is in charge of the police? The Sherrif? Who sets policies and training and oversight of the various police and sheriffs we encounter every day? Who should I vote for if i care about such things?

How to Run For Office and Be Politically Engaged in Illinois, Shelby County, and Shelbyville

Each county and state and city has its own political organizations. There are organizations to help you if you are interested in civic engagement.

What is a city council? A county commission? A board of supervisors? And why should I care?

Local governing bodies may go by different names, but they have one function in common: to be the people's eyes and ears in government.

Who Governs What in Illinois, Shelby County, and Shelbyville: An A to Z Guide

You can participate in many levels of government: local, county, state, and federal.

Government Agencies Promoting & Tracking Economic Development

Find out what programs serve Illinois and Shelby County.

Federal Agencies by Topic

Learn how to find the right agency to deal with your issue.

How to Report Consumer Fraud in Illinois

You have an important role to play in enforcing Illinois consumer protection laws, by reporting it when you experience it.

What is Democracy?

Democracy is our most basic governmental idea. It is the secular, Enlightenment era exiperiment that our founding fathers embarked upon, that the power of government should derive from "the consent of the governed" as opposed to "the devine right"from "God" that Kings had always asserted as their source of legitimate authority

What is representative government?

Learn the difference between straight democracy and representative government -- and where you fit in.

Who makes laws and regulations?

You've heard the old joke about laws and sausages -- that you don't want to know how they're made? If you disagree, here's what you should know.

How to Run for Office in Shelby County, IL

Learn about how to file your candidacy for a local or county office.

Personal Finance -- Legislation

Organizations that track Personal Finance

Civil Rights -- Legislation Tracking Organizations

Organizations that track Civil Rights legislation.

Consumer Protection -- Legislation, Organizations

Organizations that track Consumer Protection legislation.

Government & Democracy -- Legislation, Organizations, Issues

Health Care -- Legislation, Organizations, Issues

Find legal information in your zip code for health care issues including access, death, women's, children's, men's, and healthcare for seniors.

Sharing Economy -- Legislation, Organizations, Issues

Organizations That Track Issues in Illinois and Shelby County

Democracy depends on powerful advocates. Here is a list of progressive causes and the organizations that fight for them.

What is Christian Nationalism?

Christian nationalism is an anti-democratic movement and a perversion of the message of Jesus, aimed at giving government the power to impose right wing values on the personal choices of Americans regarding sex, love, death, and all aspects of life.

Groups That Track Legislation on Specific Issues

There are hundreds of organizations on the internet that monitor important legislation. We thank them for their efforts and gratefully link to them here.

Children's Health Issues - Organizations and Interest Groups

The welfare and rights of children affect their health in terms of food and shelter but also mental health, and their choices and civil rights regarding the medical choices and treatments affecting them

Local Media and the Importance of Community Radio

Sinclair media and other right-wing companies have made a business of buying up local tv and radio stations, depriving Americans of a true local voice in community affairs. Learn how you can start a community radio station.

Reliable Sources of Fact-Based News for Consumers

Our favorite reliable sources of fact-driven, quality news reporting on issues of interest to consumers.

What We're Reading About Democracy and Voting

News articles about democracy, voting, and the constitution.

Welcome to Democracy by Zip Code

This site is dedicated to the preservation of democracy against the assault of authoritarians and the enablers that support them.