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Today’s number: $4 million

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* Two legislator-approved constitutional amendments and maybe two constitutional amendments pushed by others means the state has some serious printing and mailing costs ahead

Officials say Illinois will spend about $4 million to print and mail educational materials about several efforts to change the state constitution in the November election.

Secretary of State spokesman Dave Druker told The Associated Press on Friday that his agency is required to mail about 5.2 million pamphlets to Illinois households. They’re also required to advertise in newspapers in every county. The information will include the pros and cons of each proposal.

…Adding… As OneMan wryly notes in comments, it’ll be fascinating to see the officially sanctioned counter argument to the anti voter suppression amendment.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:05 pm

Comments

  1. So I bet the newspapers are happy about this then…

    Looking forward to the con on voter supression

    Comment by OneMan Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:17 pm

  2. Thanks, Bruce!

    Comment by k3 Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:19 pm

  3. Payday for the newsprint peddlers.

    Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:23 pm

  4. $4 million? was Dave planning to deliver each one taped to a Domino’s pizza?

    Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:37 pm

  5. This is something we should do every election with information about the candidates. Several states distribute a printed voters guide to all registered voters, and it’s a small but important investment in an educated electorate.

    Comment by Dan Johnson Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:49 pm

  6. Gee, I remember one commenter telling me that these don’t cost money.

    Comment by Norseman Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 12:51 pm

  7. –Several states distribute a printed voters guide to all registered voters, and it’s a small but important investment in an educated electorate.–

    There’s no lack of easily accessible information out there. And many ignorami who wish to remain blissfully so.

    The newspapers and post office don’t need another payday from a state voter’s guide.

    As far as I’m concerned, legal notices in the print papers are a ridiculous taxpayer subsidy to a dead business model. Put everything online and be done with it.

    I’m sure the agents-of-change at the Tribbie editorial board would agree.

    Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:01 pm

  8. If our ballot access laws weren’t stuck in the 19th century, the board of elections would be bringing in revenues to help cover this cost from candidate filing fees like more than 30 other states already use for ballot access.

    Comment by Jeff Trigg Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:25 pm

  9. Jeff -

    Charging folks to get on the ballot seems pretty undemocratic.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 1:47 pm

  10. wordslinger-

    Newspapers wouldn’t get any money from a government-printed and mailed voters’ guide.

    The USPS would. But that’s a good thing. They can use it.

    Comment by Dan Johnson Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:05 pm

  11. “Charging folks to get on the ballot seems pretty undemocratic.”

    YDD - Why? More than 30 other states use filing fees with fewer problems that we have. Our huge petition signature requirements cost candidates a ton more than any filing fee would cost them. If you really believe charging them to get on the ballot is undemocratic, then you should be even more opposed to our current signature requirements to get on the ballot. Getting signatures takes tons of time, and time is money. It also means they are wasting massive amounts of time collecting signatures instead of out campaigning. Ask anyone, who isn’t a D or R, which costs them more, filing fees or petition signatures, and I’ll bet 99.9% of them will say filing fees are massively cheaper than petitioning. Getting 25,000 signatures in 90 days will almost always cost more than $50,000. That is undoubtedly more undemocratic than any filing fee would be.

    Comment by Jeff Trigg Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:16 pm

  12. Interested to see how the full scope of Rauner’s term limits, and legislative structure, and governor’s power, reform proposal will be described in less than 1000 words. And how it can fit as a ballot question.

    It was sold as the “term limits” petition, but it does much more than the signers of the petitions were clearly informed about.

    Comment by Walker Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:38 pm

  13. Just remember … “Illinois Is Broke”!

    Comment by forwhatitsworth Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 2:51 pm

  14. -OneMan-

    Pro: The anti voter suppression amendment will make sure that those people eligible to vote are able to do so.

    Con: You don’t really want Those People voting, now do you?

    Comment by Kruse Friday, Jun 6, 14 @ 3:32 pm

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