After months of discourse and legal back and forth, a majority of Oak Parkers voted in favor of a midterm advisory referendum question on the Nov. 3 ballot: “Should the State of Illinois repeal laws that ban state investment in businesses that boycott the State of Israel?”

Approximately 65.36% of voters chose “Yes” on the question, a tally of over 14,000 votes. Over 7,700 people, or 34.64% of voters, voted “No” on the question, according to the Cook County clerk’s office.

Two organizations formed to urge voters to choose yes or no in the referendum.

Oak Parkers for Free Speech were swaying people to vote yes and were successful in their efforts.

Jesse Bauer, a member of the organization, was happy after finding out the results, not just in Oak Park, but in other areas where the advisory referendum appeared on ballots.

“We’re thrilled, not only with what happened here in Oak Park but with the referendums carried in all eight municipalities,” Bauer said.

Volunteers gathered on election night at Roberts Westside, a live music venue in River Forest, to watch the results roll in. Over 100 volunteers were working the polls in Oak Park, he said.

Though even getting the advisory measure on area ballots proved to be tough, Bauer said the effort was worth fighting for.

“This has been a journey and a half,” he said. “As someone told me last night, it’s always that way when you’re advocating for human rights and Palestinian rights.”

He feels that a lot of people may not have been aware of the issue earlier this year, but is proud that they are now.

“We’re excited that the community came together on this and it’s a huge result, a huge mandate,” he said. “The turnout here in Oak Park was really high I think in part because of this referendum.”

Oak Park Neighbors United advocated for people to vote no on the referendum.

Mark Segal, a spokesman for the organization, called the referendum question “divisive” in a statement issued after the election.

“Oak Park Neighbors United is disappointed by passage of this divisive advisory boycott referendum,” he said. “We thank the many voters who voted “No,” our dedicated campaign workers, the Jewish community, and our many community allies, including 11 current and former village trustees.”

Segal said the results revealed “no community consensus” and called the question “painful to many in our community, including Palestinian Americans, Muslims, Israeli Americans, and Jews,” and said his group fought against an earlier effort to place the question on ballots by Oak Park Township as well.

“We anticipated this painful discord, especially on a ballot issue that is only advisory,” he said. “We pledge to support healing within our community.”

In April, hundreds of voters opposed putting the question on the ballot at a passionate and heavily attended Oak Park Township Annual Town Meeting. But Oak Parkers for Free Speech later gathered over 3,500 signatures to get the question placed on the Midterm Election ballots by the village of Oak Park.

The question relates to a state law signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2015 that prohibits pension funds from investing in companies for a number of criteria, including those that engage in a boycott of Israel. As an advisory referendum, it is a way to gauge public opinion but will not necessarily result in action by the village.

chardy@chicagotribune.com