The Peoria Chapters of the NAACP, the ACLU, the Peoria Christian Leadership Council and the Peoria Area League of Women Voters are partnering in a campaign to prevent voter suppression in Peoria. The self-described non-partisan effort is called “Let Me Vote!” and will kick off with a press conference at 5:30 p.m. Monday, September 24, at the Gateway building downtown. According to a press release, Peoria City Election Commission executive director Tom Bride and Peoria County Clerk Steve Sonnemaker are scheduled to speak on “the history of voter suppression in Peoria [and]…ways to prevent it in the forthcoming election.”

A candidate forum is scheduled immediately following the press conference. “All candidates in contested races for US Congress, Illinois State Senate and House, Peoria County offices and County Board have been invited to attend this event,” the press release stated. “The audience will be able to ask questions of these candidates.”

Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Both events are open to the public.