There is very little that Illinois Democrats and Republicans can agree on this election cycle. Voters can see a clear difference in stance and posture on some of the biggest issues of the day.

Here is a look at how some of the issues have played out this election.

Crime

Republicans in Illinois have been trying to chip away at the so-called SAFE-T Act that Pritzker signed in 2021. The new law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, would effectively end cash bail for defendants, among many other reforms, though misinformation about the law went viral this year.

Republicans have aggressively criticized Pritzker for signing the measure, while the governor has said he’s open to changing the law without giving any specifics as to how he would do that.

Pritzker, meanwhile, has called for banning assault-style weapons in the wake of the July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park. Bailey, who’s opposed gun control measures in the past, has avoided taking a stand during his campaign against Pritzker, choosing to say that it’s up to state legislators to ban those types of guns rather than articulate whether he would sign a ban if he became governor.

Crime and criminal justice reform has also become a central debate in the race to be Illinois’ attorney general, as WBEZ’s Shannon Heffernan profiled.

Abortion

In a WBEZ-Chicago Sun-Times poll last month, 11% of respondents said that abortion was their top issue this election. In fact, since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin doctors have been coming to Waukegan to provide reproductive healthcare to patients because abortion is all but outlawed in their home state. That influx was on the minds of Waukegan residents when they spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times last month.

Abortion restrictions also weighed heavily on voters from downstate Centralia.

The issue of abortion access in Illinois has been everywhere this year, even in races for an office known for giving out driver’s licenses.

Taxes

The economy ranked highest among concerns of Illinois voters –with nearly a third of likely voters ranking it number one a WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times poll showed. Indeed, Cook County residents will see a referendum on their ballot asking if they want to approve a property tax increase that would go toward the Forest Preserves. WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch outlines the question here. Public officials have said the Forest Preserves have major funding needs to maintain preserves, buildings and land. They also have hopes of expanding protected land in the future.