Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Prescription Birth Control Referendum on Ballot

hamiltoncityschools.com

An advisory referenda on this fall's ballots in Illinois aims to drive more public interest to the election.

Voters will be asked whether health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should also cover birth control.

Though this is already law in Illinois, a recent supreme court ruling showed the need to confirm supporter's opinion.

Keith Boeckelman, head of the Political Science Department at Western Illinois University, said the advisory referendum has more to do with voter turnout.

"What it is really trying to do, I think, is politically generate more turnout among Democrats. That is really the target of this more than policy," Boeckelman said.

Boeckelman also said because it is only an advisory, it would not make any change to the law.

The ballot includes other advisory referenda, such as the minimum wage advisory.