Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) was presented with a 2016 Champion of Democracy award from Common Cause Illinois Wednesday night.

Harmon was recognized for his advocacy on behalf of early childhood education, government oversight and ethics, and expanded voting access.

Common Cause noted Harmon’s efforts to bring same-day voter registration to Illinois, as well as online voter registration and an expanded early voting period.

Harmon also supports proposed legislation to introduce automatic voter registration in Illinois. Such a system would allow eligible voters to automatically update their voter registration any time they update or renew their driver’s licenses.

“I will take whatever criticism is leveled at me for trying to expand access to the vote, because I cannot imagine a scenario where our world is not better off with more people participating,” Harmon said.

“If we make it easier to vote, to register, make it easier to get to the polling place on Election Day or to vote early by mail – the more we do to include people in our democracy, to include people in our decision making, the better decisions we’ll make.”

Harmon thanked Common Cause for the honor of being a 2016 champion of democracy, noting that while he is flattered and humbled to be singled out, he is happy to share the recognition with all of the people who have a hand in the initiatives he’s championed.

“It is so important that we make government more accountable, more transparent and – I think most importantly – less responsive to big money,” he said. “We are better off as a democracy when the field is level, when everyone’s voice is heard, when no one’s voice is so amplified that it drowns out everybody else’s voice.”

• Watch the video interview Common Cause did with Senator Harmon.