Occasionally a bill slides through the legislature with barely a murmur, even though its ramifications are significant. Such is Senate Bill 2022, sponsored by our own Senator, Mike Frerichs.
SB 2022 essentially ends absentee voting as we know it and turns the early voting period from a 23 day period to a 40 day period and allows people to vote early by mail. Every person will be able to vote before the election without excuse, either in person or by mail. In person no excuse voting (early voting) will continue until the night before the election.
It’s hard to minimize the drastic change this can bring to the election process. First, we’re going to see already overtaxed election staffs around the state struggling even more to prepare for elections. The number of people voting early will increase dramatically and if these voters decide to do it through the mail it will add costs to the budgets of every election department. The night before the election
Second, the early voting period will now overlap the last day to register to vote creating administrative problems and raising the problem of how to deal with those who move after they’ve voted.
Third, and most importantly, this is opening up the door to fraud in this state like we’ve never seen. Historically, absentee voting is the most common area for fraud and the easiest to execute. Here's an excellent summation of an article from University of Illinois law professor Jessica Fay on the topic. As a corollary, absentee voting by mail opens up a greater possibility of one spouse voting for another or parents voting for children. I’ve wryly noted that the all-mail ballot doubles the votes of every guy who beats his wife.
I’m not sure if this bill can be stopped, or at least modified to make it more palatable. Republicans supported it unanimously in the Senate, but the bill received a partisan roll call in the House Elections Committee. Hopefully, the House sponsor, Jakobsson, will be asked tough questions about why this bill is necessary and what safeguards are in place to avoid the problems that are sure to occur. If members from both sides of the aisle understood this bill, I think it would have a tough time passing.
Second, the early voting period will now overlap the last day to register to vote creating administrative problems and raising the problem of how to deal with those who move after they’ve voted.
How is this different than someone who votes normally and then moves out of the district before the elect takes office? Doesn't it pretty much come down to people getting to vote only once and having to be eligible to vote at the place they cast their vote when the vote is cast?
I’ve wryly noted that the all-mail ballot doubles the votes of every guy who beats his wife.
I'd be more concerned about the elderly being exploited, as Fay described in her article. As far as the marriage analogy, couldn't you just as easily say that an all-mail ballot doubles the votes of people with apathetic spouses, or would that not be inflammatory enough?
Personally, I think about people voting this early without complete information about candidates. Unless candidates and those supporting various other issues on a ballot get out all of the information more than a month before the election date, those voting absentee could potentially vote with truncated information. This will take a huge behavioral change along with massive changes in how elections are run.
Pattsi Petrie
"I’m not sure if this bill can be stopped, or at least modified to make it more palatable. Republicans supported it unanimously in the Senate, but the bill received a partisan roll call in the House Elections Committee."
elections committee is 5-4 and the vote passed 6-3, so atleast one republican voted for it.
I can't comment on anything involving the bill because I haven't read it yet, but it suprises me this is the first you've commented on the bill, it's been around since February, one would think it is part of your job to stay on top of these things.
PS you might want to check out your post and edit it, as there are a few errors.
"Third, and most importantly, this is opening up the door to fraud in this state like we’ve never seen."
What else would be the point of this?
Between forty days of early voting and recount after recount, every day is Election Day. No wonder everyone loves politics.
The Elections Committee is 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans. I believe one Republican was absent.
I generally give my input on elections bills through our legislative committee of our association. There are dozens of bills dealing with elections, and usually I'm on top of them. I actually didn't take this bill as seriously as I should have since this idea has been around before and has been shot down. Once again, why Republicans let it fly through the Senate I don't know.
No sigificant fund raising changes by Springfield and almost a year of a canidate's term is wasted by the election process makes this ."'Jones' boy" Frerichs' sponsored legislation typical of Illinois politics. I find it disgusting.
Richard P. Myers a republican on the elections committee voted Yes for the bill not present.
Go Whitesox!!!
Mark wrote: The Elections Committee is 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans. I believe one Republican was absent.
Your information is incorrect. The House Elections Committee is composed of
Nekritz (D), D'Amico (D), Brady (R), Boland (D), Durkin (R), Jakobsson (D), Mell (D), Myers (R), and Reis (R).
On May 20th, 2009 at 09:30 AM, DaveM said:
Mark wrote: The Elections Committee is 6 Democrats and 4 Republicans. I believe one Republican was absent.
Your information is incorrect. The House Elections Committee is composed of
Nekritz (D), D'Amico (D), Brady (R), Boland (D), Durkin (R), Jakobsson (D), Mell (D), Myers (R), and Reis (R).
And Mark is in charge of counting our votes!
3 Score + 10
Keith Hays
I'm pretty sure that Sen. Frerichs is just going to use this to vote as other people!!! I mean Richard Semerau, Mike Tisdale and Bill Cole really need to watch out, because Mike will swoop in with his height and the voting judges will just assume he is one of them.
thanks Keith! properly embarassed here. that's why we have strict rules about proofing my work. :)
69 yes, 48 no, passed.
Mark, if your office is so over staffed would you support a tax increase to use for hiring new employees for your office?
No, I don't support a tax increase. What I do support is government at all levels putting a moratorium on nice new programs that add costs when we are broke.