Why put effort into citizen advocacy? Because it can work.

Last week the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office settled a lawsuit with a handful of organizations who sued over implementation of 2017′s automatic voter registration legislation. As a result, drivers’ license processors will stop sending voter registration information to the Illinois State Board of Elections to people who are ineligible to vote based on age or immigration status.

The state also is on the clock to develop a system allowing Illinoisans to automatically update registration status whenever they request a change of address on a license or other state identification. This would seem to be the type of thing lawmakers or then-Gov. Bruce Rauner would’ve demanded before enacting the law, but Illinois isn’t exactly known for getting things right the first time.

Part of this story is indeed government inefficiency – one noncitizen voted in Champaign County in 2018 – but it’s also a tale of triumph for people who care about expanding the voter pool in accordance with state and federal law. That may not be a pet issue for everyone, and not every challenge requires taking a state agency to federal court. Still, this success should inspire others looking to improve conditions in Illinois: Organizing and advocacy can make a difference.

Following up: Tuesday’s column covered a measure allowing taxing bodies to increase levies to make themselves whole when forced to issue refunds on account of contested assessments. Reader Arthur Harmel of Johnsburg wrote to request the bill number. I thanked him for catching the oversight and can report the legislation, Senate Bill 508, was sent to Gov. JB Pritzker for his signature Tuesday morning.

Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, sponsored the bill. In April he told Shaw Media that, “As frustrating and burdensome as property taxes are in this state, we must ensure our governmental entities that depend on those revenues to provide important public services that we rely upon are funded at expected levels. This measure is not a tax increase; it simply closes a loophole that has created unanticipated revenue reductions for taxing bodies.”

Fair enough, but Illinois still needs a solution addressing initial assessment accuracy, or this loophole closes around the taxpayers, not the government officials.

Culinary Checklist update: I’ve invited readers to share favorite menu items from Illinois restaurants to create a collaborative “must-eat” list for summer road trips. Today’s come from reader Joyce Kellogg, who commends Old Mill Tavern in Sheridan, owned by Cindy Simpson. “They have the best onion rings of anyplace I have eaten,” Joyce said. “A huge platter will be put in front of you when ordered.” She also recommends the chicken and fish. Share your favorites via email or social media.

• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Media. Follow him on Twitter @sth749. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.