Illinois officials will pick the first $1 million winner in its COVID-19 vaccine lottery on July 8. Three $150,000 college scholarship winners also will be drawn that day.
The $10 million vaccine promotion in Illinois, called “All In For The Win,” is designed to thank people who already have received at least one dose of vaccine and as an incentive for people who have not gotten a shot to get one, according to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
“It’s our way of saying to those who haven’t been vaccinated, ‘Please join us,'” the governor said in mid-June. “Vaccines are incredibly effective, and they keep you protected, but they also make your community safer. It’s great that your grandma or grandpa has been vaccinated, but you can make them even safer by getting vaccinated, too.”
West Virginia’s Vaccination Lottery Program To Include Guns, Trucks and Cash. West Virginia’s Vaccination Lottery Program To Include Guns, Trucks and Cash. West Virginia’s Vaccination Lottery Program To Include Guns, Trucks and Cash. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement on June 1. We’re going to do this program from June 20 until August 4, Gov. Jim Justice, via statement. We’re going to start with the giveaways on Father’s Day, Gov. Jim Justice, via statement. The state’s first $1 million prize drawing will take place on Father’s Day. Also up for grabs are two new custom trucks, five lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. five custom hunting rifles, five custom hunting shotguns and 25 weekend getaways to state parks. Additionally, Gov. Justice said, “We’re going to give away two full, four-year scholarships to kids that are age-eligible from 12 to 25.”. To be entered to win, residents must have had at least their first COVID-19 shot. Several other states and businesses have also established incentive programs in an attempt to persuade more people to get vaccinated
The Illinois Lottery will handle the drawings, which will continue throughout the summer. All Illinois residents who have been vaccinated are automatically entered to win.
The prize money will be paid from federal grants Illinois has received to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $1 million drawing on July 8 will be among three $1 million jackpots and 40 $100,000 cash prizes. After July 8, three winners of $100,000 cash prizes will be chosen every Monday between July 12 and Aug. 16 from a statewide pool.
People are also reading…
On Aug. 12, 22 winners from regional drawings will be picked. Two winners will be drawn from each of the 11 regions in Pritzker’s Restore Illinois reopening plan.
Two $1 million cash prizes will be drawn Aug. 26 from a statewide pool.
Three $150,000 scholarship winners will be drawn from a statewide pool July 8.
On Aug. 26, 17 Illinois students ages 12 to 17, one from each Restore Illinois region and six additional students from a statewide pool, will receive $150,000 scholarships. The students can use the scholarships at public and private four- and two-year colleges, vocational and technical schools across the United States and some schools abroad.
Scholarship awards must be used before a student turns 26, and can’t be used for K-12 educational expenses.
You must be an Illinois resident 18 or older to receive cash prizes and between 12 and 17 for scholarship awards.
You must have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois, except for vaccines administered at certain federal facilities. People who received vaccine at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities will be included in the lottery.
Eligibility doesn’t depend on immigration status.
People who are incarcerated in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities who have been vaccinated are eligible for the lottery.
Employees of the governor’s office, lieutenant governor’s office, Illinois Lottery, designated employees of the Illinois Department of Public Health and employees of designated state vendors aren’t eligible to win.
About 7.5 million Illinoisans have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That represents 59% of the state’s total population.
Among the population 18 and older, 7.06 million Illinoisans, or 71.7% of the adult population, have received at least one dose.
About 440,000 Illinoisans between 12 and 17 have received at least one dose.
Entries for people who get their first shot after July 1 will be added to the pool for drawings.
Winners who don’t wish to accept a prize may decline when they are contacted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Winners can choose to remain anonymous. For winners from communities with populations of 20,000 or more, the locations of winners’ hometowns will be published. For winners from smaller communities, only the winners’ home counties will be published.
Taxes will automatically be deducted from winnings. Outstanding obligations to the state and child support commitments will be deducted from prizes if winners owe any such debts.
Illinois Isn’t the only state to offer incentives. Illinois’ promotions have included thousands of free tickets to Six Flags and free target rounds at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta. It’s unclear how successful these incentives have been in leading to more vaccinations.
The Associated Press reported recently that Ohio’s vaccine lottery, worth millions in incentives, came to a close in June while the state struggled to meet 50% vaccinated despite early success.
Incentive programs also fell short of their goals in West Virginia and Colorado, while other states including Oregon and California have seen some success.
West Virginia included pickup trucks and hunting rifles in its giveaways.
See the new Illinois laws that took effect July 1
665 bills
The Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly approved 665 bills this legislative session, with the vast majority awaiting Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature.
But, Pritzker has signed 42 bills into law. A handful of those will take effect Jan. 1, 2022, but most went into effect immediately upon signing or will take effect this Thursday.
Here are some notable new laws in effect now or on Thursday that Illinoisans should know.
Election reform
With pandemic-related delays to U.S. Census redistricting numbers, lawmakers moved back the state’s 2022 primary election from March 15 to June 28. The legislation also makes Election Day a state holiday, requires every county to have at least one universal voting center and allow people to be added to a permanent vote-by-mail list. (SB825)
Vote by mail
Some pandemic-induced changes to voting for the 2020 general election, such as vote-by-mail and curbside drop-off, will now be permanent features of future elections. (House Bill 1871)
State legislative redistricting
As they are tasked with doing every 10 years, lawmakers approved new district boundaries for the Illinois House and Senate. The Democrat-drawn maps, which utilized the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey instead of waiting for the decennial census numbers that will arrive later this year, have been challenged in court by Republicans and some other groups. (HB2777)
Illinois Supreme Court redistricting
The seven-person Illinois Supreme Court’s district boundaries were successfully redrawn for the first time since the 1960s. (SB642)
Police reform
There was no more controversial bill that passed this year than House Bill 3653, also known as the SAFE-T Act, which passed during the lame duck session this January. The provisions ending cash bail and requiring all police to wear body cameras will not take effect until 2023 and 2025, respectively. But starting Thursday, police will be required to render aid to the injured, intervene when a fellow officer is using excessive force and and be limited in use of force. It also offers stricter guidelines for the decertification of officers and would allow people to file anonymous complaints of police misconduct. (HB3653)
Payday loans
Lenders are now prohibited from charging more than 36% annual percentage rate on consumer loans. The average rate in Illinois was nearly 300% prior to the law’s signing. (SB1792)
Vaccine lottery
Tucked into the state’s fiscal year 2022 budget is $10 million for a “vaccine lottery.” All Illinois residents vaccinated by July 1 will be automatically entered into the contest. It includes $7 million in cash prizes to vaccinated adults, ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and $3 million in scholarship awards to vaccinated youth. (SB2800)
COVID-19 emergency housing
Created guidelines for distributing more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds for COVID-related housing relief. Also creates automatic sealing of evictions during the pandemic. (SB2877)
Pretrial interest
Victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases will be allowed to collect interest from defendants from the time a lawsuit is filed. It is meant to incentivize settlement of these cases. It was supported by the trial lawyers and opposed by business groups. (SB72)
Casino labor
All casino applicants in Illinois are now required to enter into a project-labor agreement when seeking a new or renewed license. (SB1360)
Crime victims compensation
Provides that a victim’s criminal history or felony status shall not automatically prevent compensation to that victim or the victim’s family. Extends the applicant’s period for submitting requested information to 45 days from 30 days and provides that a final award shall not exceed $45,000, up from $27,000, for a crime committed on or after August 7, 2022. (HB3295)
Electronic signature
Provides that a contract, record, or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because it is in electronic form or an electronic record was used in its formation. Provides that if a law requires a record to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies the law. (SB2176)
