While the importance of voting in a democracy cannot be overstated, voting by itself is not the only signicant factor in determining the civic health of a population. Civic health is also reected in other measures of civic participation, such as the strength of leadership and the rate of group afliation, as well as through diverse social interactions, both formal and informal, by which community members illustrate they are invested in local institutions. Indicators that demonstrate participation include volunteering, donating to causes, belonging to groups, engaging in political acts outside of elections, showing leadership among peers in group involvement, having personal connections with others, and being informed about the surrounding community. For purposes of this report, “formal” forms of participation include volunteering with or donating to groups; “informal” forms of participation include attending a meeting where a public issue is discussed and xing a problem in the community with neighbors. Recognizing that informal forms of participation in civil society strengthen social capital, this report also includes an analysis of interpersonal connections and access to news and information. Through this report's analysis, a picture of the strength of Illinois' social capital emerges. Social capital is a sociological term that refers to connections within and between human networks. These measures help elucidate Illinois' strengths and weaknesses in building the capacity of its residents to participate effectively in civic affairs.