The Aurora Electoral Board voted Monday, Sept. 14, to approve a recall referendum for the November ballot, after objections against the recall were overruled.
This will be the first mayor recall referendum in history of Illinois.
Initiated by a petition from the group Aurora for Change, the referendum establishes a mechanism to recall a sitting mayor or at-large aldermen before their terms expire.
A press release from Aurora For Change shared the following statement for the vision and purpose of the organization:
“Aurora for Change is rooted in a simple principle: in a strong democracy, power ultimately belongs to the people. This initiative is not about parties or personalities—it is about strengthening the democratic process by giving voters a clear, structured way to hold their elected officials accountable between elections.
Elections remain the foundation of our democracy. This effort simply builds that foundation by providing voters with an additional tool—one that empowers residents to stay engaged and ensures that leadership remains responsive throughout their term.
This is more than a single policy change—it’s reinforcing the idea that our system works best when people have a voice, not just on Election Day, but every day.”
— Aurora for Change