* Rep. Chris Welch chairs the House Executive Committee…
As any mistakes affecting voter registration are very serious, I am calling representatives from the Secretary of State’s office to come before the House Executive Committee next week in order to provide legislators with answers on how this occurred and clarify what steps are being taken to ensure it will never happen again. The Secretary’s office has pledged full and transparent cooperation with lawmakers on this issue.
While we’ve seen Republican-led efforts in states like Wisconsin and Georgia that would suppress voter turnout—particularly among minority voters—in Illinois, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to ensure that all who are legally eligible can exercise their right to vote. Now we will work together again to ensure the automatic voter registration system is properly implemented.”
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jan 22, 20 @ 4:40 pm:
Great. It’s a bipartisan law and both parties should get together and make sure the law works properly.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 22, 20 @ 5:16 pm:
This the wise and prudent move, with all parties looking to find answers not political points.
GOP, this is saving *you* from yourselves. Keep on point to the problem and fixing it. Don’t go do the off-script silly
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Jan 23, 20 @ 9:28 am:
Except then the Representative takes a political shot in announcing the hearings. Sounds like he needs to focus a bit on the actual problem here too. If you want a serious nonpartisan tone on this issue, set one.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Jan 23, 20 @ 9:39 am:
Was the “Republican” voter suppression claims referenced by Rep. Welch really necessary when he claimed that Republicans and Democrats have worked in a bipartisan fashion on this issue in the past in Illinois? No.
Nevertheless, my county clerk long since retired used to complain that voter registration received from the SOS put the onus on local clerks to determine whether voters were properly registered and were citizens in the form of an unpaid mandate. When she tried to vet these applications she was met with hostility from local Democrats. If that onus still exists it should be part of the hearing.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 23, 20 @ 9:51 am:
===…put the onus on local clerks to determine whether voters were properly registered and were citizens in the form of an unpaid mandate.===
You don’t want the clerk to verify? Don’t they verify for… everyone? Can’t complain about voters than call it an “undivided mandate” when the clerks role in registration is verification.
This is tasty, LOL
===…really necessary when he claimed that Republicans and Democrats have worked in a bipartisan fashion on this issue in the past in Illinois?===
Then just lines after…
=== When she tried to vet these applications she was met with hostility from local Democrats.===
Pathetic. Only your partisan thinking matters?
At least be consistent in a whole comment.