Strong Support for Tobacco-free Living Policies in Broadview and Melrose Park

The Nov. 6 Election Day was an important day for tobacco-free living policies in Broadview and Melrose Park! Voters were asked to vote on two separate referenda regarding tobacco products.
 
A referendum in Broadview asked, “Should the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in the State of Illinois be increased from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age?” Broadview residents voted overwhelmingly in favor, with 81% voting in support and 19% against. Broadview is not a home-rule community, so they are unable to pass a local Tobacco 21 policy for the Village. Residents’ support for a statewide policy shows the need for Tobacco 21 policies at the county-level and state-level that cover those municipalities unable to pass legislation on their own.
 
Additionally, Melrose Park included a referendum on their ballot asking, “Given the increased use of vaping products by persons under the age of eighteen (18) years old, should the Village of Melrose Park prohibit the sale of compact vaping devices within the Village of Melrose Park limits?”  The referendum recognized that youth are using e-cigarettes at increasingly higher rates, and that something must be done to address this growing issue. 74% of voters voted in favor and 26% voted against.
 
These referenda show strong community support among Broadview and Melrose Park residents for policies that limit youth access to tobacco products. We will continue to share information about strong community support for these policies as we work to educate legislators about how Tobacco 21 policies reduce tobacco use and the burden tobacco use places on communities.