Turnout during the primary was 42.56%, with 2,552,932 ballots cast (with 1,588,438 Democratic ballots, 899,153 Republican ballots, 418 Illinois Solidarity, and 34,923 nonpartisan ballots cast).[2]
Turnout during the general election was 73.89%, 4,697,192 ballots cast.[1]
This was the sixth consecutive election in which the state had voted for the Republican ticket in a presidential election. As of the 2020 election, it is also the last time that the state has voted for the Republican ticket.
A regularly-scheduled election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system for full six-year terms, while a special election was held to fill an additional seat for a partial term.
Regular election
An election was held for three of nine seats for Trustees of University of Illinois system for six-year terms.
The election saw the election of new three new trustees, Republicans Donald W. Grabowski and Judith Reese as well as Democrat Ken Boyle.[1][3]
First-term incumbent Democrat Albert N. Logan lost reelection.[1][3]
Third-term incumbent Democrats George W. Howard III and William D. Forsyth Jr. were not nominated for reelection.[1][3]
Trustees of the University of Illinois election[1][3]
A special election was held to fill the trustee seat left vacant by Democrat Anne E. Smith.[3] Smith's unexpired term would end in 1991.[3] The seat was filled by the interim appointment of Republican Paul R. Cicero.[3] He was defeated by Democrat Gloria Jackson Bacon.[1][3]
Multiple judicial positions were up for election in 1988.[1]
Ballot measures
Illinois voters voted on several ballot measures in 1988.[4] In order to be approved, measures required either 60% support among those specifically voting on the measure or 50% support among all ballots cast in the elections.[4]
Redemption Period for Tax Delinquent Property Amendment
The Illinois Redemption Period for Tax Delinquent Property Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which would amend Article IX, Section 8 of the Constitution of Illinois to modify the redemption period on the sale of a tax delinquent property, failed to meet either threshold to amend the constitution.[4][5] It only missed the threshold of 60% of votes cast specifically on the measure by a mere 0.87% margin (21,960 votes).[4][5]
Redemption Period for Tax Delinquent Property Amendment[4][5]
Option
Votes
% of votes on measure
% of all ballots cast
Yes
1,497,885
59.13
31.89
No
1,035,190
40.87
22.04
Total votes
2,533,075
100
53.93
Voter turnout
39.85%
Voting Requirement Amendment
Voters approved the Voting Requirement Amendment, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment which amended Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of Illinois to lower the voting age in the state constitution to 18 and lower the residency requirement to vote to 30 days.[4][6]
The voting age in Illinois was already 18, due to the passage of the Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. However, the voting age in the state constitution (superseded by United States Constitution) was still 21.
A measure which would call for a state constitutional convention failed.[4][7] Article XIV of the Constitution of Illinois requires that Illinois voters be asked at least every 20 years if they desire a constitutional convention,[8][9] thus this election was an automatic ballot referral.[7] It was constitutionally required to be held, since the last vote on holding a constitutional convention had occurred in 1968.[7][8]
Proposed call for a Constitutional Convention[4][7]
Option
Votes
% of votes on referendum
% of all ballots cast
Yes
900,109
24.82
19.16
No
2,727,144
75.18
58.06
Total votes
3,627,253
100
77.22
Voter turnout
57.06%
Local elections
Local elections were held. These included county elections, such as the Cook County elections.