Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Why did they do it this way?
Next Post: Unclear on the concept
Posted in:
* The General Assembly sent this bill to the governor’s desk last week…
The Chicago Democrat’s proposal would extend in-person early voting hours and allow voters to register on election day.
It also would remove identification requirements for in-person early voting and allow public universities to serve as locations for election day in-person absentee voting.
The changes would be in effect for [only] the November election. [….]
Republicans say the move is an attempt to drive Democratic turnout in a close, nationally watched governor’s race.
* From a Chicago Votes press release…
What happened Friday is a big deal. The legislature approved a pilot program that allows Illinoisans to register to vote until the end of Election Day at designated polling locations across the state! This is a great step towards permanent precinct-wide Election Day Registration, which we will continue to fight for in the coming months.
We also got some bonuses:
* University of Illinois at Chicago, U of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, U of Ilinois at Springfield, U of I Carbondale, U of I Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Western Illinois University at Macomb and Western Illinois at Moline will allow students who are registered, but haven’t switched their registration location to vote on Election Day.
* Employers may not require employees to use earned vacation time or paid leave to serve as an election judge!
* We also got extended hours and more days for early voting.
Fewer folks will have to deal with an arbitrary 28 day registration deadline before an election, (or scramble to the few spots that offer registration 3 days before), or worry about not having their provisional ballots counted, or be excluded from the voting process because they moved just before Election Day.
The full bill is here.
* The bill also includes this…
Provides that Cook County Commissioners and the president of the board are not eligible to hold office if he or she has been convicted in any court located in the United States of any infamous crime, bribery, perjury, or other felony.
Hmm.
…Adding… From Think Progress…
Election Day registration is, in many ways, the anti-voter ID. Voter ID laws, which have been en vogue among conservatives recently, could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters (though different studies have reached different conclusions regarding how many voters will be disenfranchised by voter ID, even conservative estimates suggest that 2 to 3 percent of registered voters will be impacted). Election Day registration, on the other hand, tends to boost turnout between 7 to 14 percentage points, according to scientific studies. These gains come predominantly from the very groups that voter ID tends to discriminate against: minorities, young voters, and low-income Americans.
There are a few reasons why Election Day registration has such a significant impact on turnout. Requiring people to register before they actually cast a ballot presents an extra hurdle to voting that necessarily depresses turnout. In addition, many Americans don’t begin paying attention to an election until just before Election Day, at which point it is too late to register in many states. Finally, nearly one in eight Americans move in an average year. Unless they remember to update their voter registration before Election Day or live in a state with Election Day registration, they can’t vote.
Election Day registration has grown increasingly popular in blue states recently, likely in response to the rash of voter suppression laws since 2010. In the past two years, four other states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Hawaii — have enacted Election Day registration, bringing the total number of states to 13, plus the District of Columbia.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:10 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Why did they do it this way?
Next Post: Unclear on the concept
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
They’ll be filling ballots out for them soon enough. Really amazing how nuts all of this is. This goes way beyond convenience and has now landed in a whole new place. How soon before the Dems pass proxy voting for students? What a crock all of this is.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:15 pm
“Dear Rauner Crew,
How’s that missing GOTV going to handle this wrinkle?
Signed,
Union Bosses
Career Politicians
Teachers
State Workers…”
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:17 pm
Insane. Vote early and often never seemed so easy.
Comment by FrenchVanilla Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:18 pm
–The Chicago Democrat’s proposal would extend in-person early voting hours and allow voters to register on election day.
It also would remove identification requirements for in-person early voting and allow public universities to serve as locations for election day in-person absentee voting.–
That stuff is a lot more significant than all those silly referenda.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:18 pm
oh goody. even better than hanging chads. if you have a pulse and can show up, you can vote.
same day registration–that wonderful provision that gave minnesota jesse ventura. a tough talking outsider. i wonder if his boa was made by carhartt.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:20 pm
No one should be comfortable when the ruling party changes election rules during an election year. While the folks in power claim publically that their new rules improves the election and make claims on how wonderful their new rules are - we need to be cynical when this kind of stuff happens.
We really should not be allowing election rule changes during an election year. The overall effect of this kind of meddling is a bad one.
I don’t think it is too difficult to put a deadline regarding general election changes to be put into effect before a primary and have them locked in.
Right now we have nominated candidates and any changes can appear to be working on the party in power’s benefit.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:20 pm
Is this another unfunded mandate?
Early version of the legislation contain language to return school filings back to the schools. But no the school employees will get their Christmas vacation while the poor county clerks will doing their work. This is another unfunded mandate.
Comment by wondering downstate Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:20 pm
Partial snark.
There is something to be said to blue dye on your left thumb after voting, and just those with proven citizenship via state ID or …
That blue dye only allows one vote(?)
See, kinda snarky, but…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:22 pm
– if you have a pulse and can show up, you can vote.–
That’s a problem?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:26 pm
Willy,
Can we go with blue dye for Dems and red dye for Republicans? That way the captains will have a more accurate 10:00 call.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:28 pm
From the district court opinion:
“. . . virtually no voter impersonation occurs in Wisconsin and it is exceedingly unlikely that voter impersonation will become a problem in Wisconsin in the foreseeable future . . . ”
Comment by Bill White Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:30 pm
- VanillaMan -,
These new rules are the Democrats way to “throw down the gauntlet” and say to both Rauners, “Slip and Sue”, and the Rauner Crew to get out your voters, and we’ll drag put all ours and see who wins?
What, you think Rauner won’t have an able GOTV to keep up with the Dems? lol
Field Operations are overrated anyway…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:30 pm
===Can we go with blue dye for Dems and red dye for Republicans? That way the captains will have a more accurate 10:00 call.===
Yeah, I like that very much. Anything for the guys on the ground, you know that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:32 pm
If this goes through the GOP will never win another statewide election in Illinois. This is monumental.
Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:33 pm
Kind of says it all right there, can’t do it for my alderman during the municipal, but can only do so for the statewide election…
Considering what they did with the committee thing for the library I am half surprised they just didn’t pass something saying they would just use the results of the last election for this election….
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:35 pm
I have nothing against early voting. I have been doing it for years. However, they always check my ID. I guess in the next election, they will not check anymore.
I know people who have moved twenty and thirty years ago whose names are still considered registered even thou they have not voted from Chicago since they moved in the 80s and 90s.
Whenever I have taken a Republican ballot in the primary, My registration has been challenged in the general election. Whenever I have taken a Democratic ballot in the primary, My registration has NOT been challenged.
I guess that it will be challenged this fall even thou I will hold my nose and vote against Brucey Bruce, not for Quinn but against Brucey Bruce.
The political parties are not good for this State and/or Country.
People need to know that the Elections are not stoled. If people believe that the Elections were stoled, they will lose faith in it and that can’t be good for anyone.
Comment by Jacob S Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:37 pm
Why stop with Cook County? Why not include all elected officials throughout the state?
Comment by Levois Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:39 pm
===If this goes through the GOP will never win another statewide election in Illinois. This is monumental.===
Yikes, ever the victims.
If the ILGOP built a Field Crew, married that with the Statewides and the GOP GA Caucuses…
Maybe instead of looking at this as a defeat, how about a “Wake up call” to finally commit to a real ground game.
It’s easy to see this as a “loss”, I see this as an opening to finally, honestly, truthfully, and committedly towards a Ground Game, not for November but for all the Marches and Novembers from now on.
Cripes, answer the alarm, don’t hit the snooze!
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:39 pm
If you want to disenfranchise voters, get your workers to the polls and challenge the “suspect” voters. The parties have that power now.
Don’t make the government do your dirty work for you.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:42 pm
So this bus loads of people paid in cigarettes who shuttle from precinct to precinct by the ward committeemen in Milwaukee don’t exist….. Riiiiight.
Got any bridges for sale?
Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:42 pm
=== wordslinger - Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:26 pm:
– if you have a pulse and can show up, you can vote.That’s a problem?====
My worries is if “you don’t have a pulse and you can vote”. No need to prove who you are. It’s very corruptible.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:45 pm
You’re right, elections are never stoled in this country. Democrats just want to make it easier for the laziest and least informed voters to go to the polls and vote themselves more goodies.
Who needs free and fair elections? Who needs the First Amendment? Democrats apparently have no boundaries anymore.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:46 pm
===You’re right, elections are never stoled in this country. Democrats just want to make it easier for the laziest and least informed===
When you’re criticizing a broad swath of the electorate for being ill informed, it’s best not to use words like “stoled.”
Idiot.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:47 pm
–So this bus loads of people paid in cigarettes who shuttle from precinct to precinct by the ward committeemen in Milwaukee don’t exist….. Riiiiight–
I always wondered how Scott Walker was elected Milwaukee County Executive.
The google turns up a story from July of 2008 from something call cnsnews.com.
Do you have more of the skinny on that?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:48 pm
W.S. “That’s a problem?”
Yes, 9.0% of the Illinois voting age population in 2012 were non-citizens. Compared to 3.6% in Indiana, 3.1% in Indiana, and 3.1% in Iowa.
Comment by Anon III Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:49 pm
Pluto, it sounds like the parties should get some poll watchers in Milwaukee.
Why don’t they do that, I wonder?
Tell us more.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:49 pm
===Democrats just want to make it easier for the laziest and least informed voters to go to the polls and vote themselves more goodies.===
Ok, ” Laziest and least informed voters”…
Is there a “test” my election judges aren’t giving me? Who decides who is informed enough to vote? Will there be essay questions? Math questions? Please no math questions.
What a Dopey thing to say to make a point; laziest and least informed.
Find your “Pluses”, harvest them, vote your “Pluses”. Control what you can control.
What goodies are being voted on, BTW? Snicker doodles? Pie? I love pie. What goodies?
If it’s Cannoli, I might lean towards whoever gets me Cannoli.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:51 pm
==“stoled.” Idiot.==
LOL
Comment by Anon III Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:52 pm
===W.S. “That’s a problem?”
Yes, 9.0% of the Illinois voting age population in 2012 were non-citizens. Compared to 3.6% in Indiana, 3.1% in Indiana, and 3.1% in Iowa. ===
And our voter turnout was below 60%. Maybe more eligible voters should start voting if this is a concern.
Comment by CollegeStudent Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:55 pm
For the last several years, IL Republicans have mostly opposed modest measures to make voting easier. All the GOP House members, for example, opposed making absentee ballots available to any eligible voter who wants one, instead of only for those who have a “good” reason. That law has been in effect now for a couple of years. Is there any evidence that election fraud has thereby increased? If opponents could present such evidence, then their complaints would be more credible.
Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:57 pm
In precinct same-day registration is going to be very difficult to implement (without significant danger of voters getting an incorrect ballot style) until such time as every jurisdiction has electronic pollbooks.
Comment by titan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 12:59 pm
Then a very simple question, if this all about making voting easier and has nothing to do with a tough election coming up, why not apply it to ALL elections in Illinois?
Let me offer a few thoughts…
First, they would not want this to happen on college campuses for local elections. I was registered to vote in DeKalb when I went to school there, heck in one election I think I was the only person to vote in my dorm (it was a school board race and I knew one of the candidates, we were on the Athletic Board together)….
Hell I am all in favor of getting as many people to vote as possible, heck I don’t see a problem with this besides for the fact, that it will apply for the state races, but not my local school board race (poor turnout by me) or the local aldermatic race (terrible turnout) and of course the primaries going forward…
So pardon me if I don’t think this is about enfranchisement and I think it is all about partisan politics.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:08 pm
===Kind of like the poll watchers in Chicago…. Blind, bought or corrupt.===
Poll watchers by the City or State GOP, candidates running, in districts, count wide, they all can send poll watchers.
What is the recent arrest, charge, and conviction rate on “Poll Watchers”? The City of Chicago has roughly 2500 precincts, so somewhere in all at corruption one Dope had to have been caught, maybe 50!
It’s easier to do the right thing, than be a victim and do nothing. Honest.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:11 pm
==No one should be comfortable when the ruling party changes election rules during an election year. While the folks in power claim publically that their new rules improves the election and make claims on how wonderful their new rules are - we need to be cynical when this kind of stuff happens.==
I suppose the same goes for the voter ID loons on the right, but coming from you I highly doubt it.
==Democrats just want to make it easier for the laziest and least informed voters to go to the polls and vote themselves more goodies.==
Next you’ll be saying only white male property owners should vote!
Anyway, people forget that most of the voting age population in this nation was around when violent voter suppression was the norm in a major section of the United States. It’s gone, thank goodness. Since then we have had a steady stream of proposals expanding the opportunity for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote. This is not bad. Same-day registration has worked without issue of fraud in other states and it can work here. The idea that only special subsections of citizens should be able to vote or that expanding voter access is harmful is nothing but a throwback to the inhumanity of the past and a sign of atavism.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:13 pm
Willy: I agree that there is not going to be a GOTV on the part of Rauner. He has zero base constituency that is willing to engage in such activities. Many of his donors (out-of-state and in Illinois) may even find such endeavors “distasteful” if not “icky.” He is not inspirational in any way to the base of the GOP. However, the economy is so atrocious he is gambling he can pull it off just by not being Quinn. And that likely could be enough.
Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:14 pm
==Then a very simple question, if this all about making voting easier and has nothing to do with a tough election coming up, why not apply it to ALL elections in Illinois?==
“pilot program”
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:15 pm
So does anyone think they would have passed this if it looked like it would help Rauner more than Quinn?
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:17 pm
===if this all about making voting easier and has nothing to do with a tough election coming up, why not apply it to ALL elections in Illinois?===
It’s billed as a pilot project. I’m betting it’ll be in place if Hillary is on the ballot, too.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:22 pm
This election only type of changes? So the same instant registration on election day and not show an ID cannot be used for the Chicago Mayoral election that follows the November 2014 election?
If they really believed this was reform they (Democrats) would have made this all permanent.
And we wonder why the rest of the nation laughs at Illinois?
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:24 pm
===However, the economy is so atrocious he is gambling he can pull it off just by not being Quinn. And that likely could be enough.===
Check out the 17 point “margin” lost by Rauner’s Crew in the Primary. Now add Quinn’s GOTV with the Unions, MJM’s ballot initiatives, and these voting “rules” being piloted out, you still think it will be enough? They need a GOTV answer, they don’t have one now.
- OneMan -, good question.
I would say, cynically no. I will say Rauner going after Union Bosses and Career Politicians and Corrupt Legislators, including 1/3 of the ILGOP GA being corrupt, that hasn’t help anyone wanting to help Rauner on anything to win.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:26 pm
==Election Day registration is, in many ways, the anti-voter ID.==
Uh, don’t they require an ID to register to vote? Wouldn’t that be exactly like a Voter ID law?
I mean, obviously it’d only apply to the newly registered voters, but it’s still requiring people to have an ID to vote.
Comment by ChrisB Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:28 pm
===Uh, don’t they require an ID to register to vote? Wouldn’t that be exactly like a Voter ID law?===
Nope.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:31 pm
…And the reason is you don’t really need a state ID to register. From the ISBE…
a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or other government document that shows your name and address will be required. A person may also demonstrate sufficient proof of identity by submission of a photo identification issued by a college or university accompanied by either a copy of the applicant’s contract or lease for a residence or any postmarked mail delivered to the applicant at his or her current residence address.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:32 pm
If people register to vote fraudulently, that evidence will survive the election. And can be documented.
Also too, has anyone ever snagged a photo of busloads of fake voters being shuttled from precinct to precinct? Ever?
Comment by Bill White Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:37 pm
Which I suspect is going to not happen as much as people think on election day….
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:41 pm
–No need to prove who you are. It’s very corruptible.–
The victims are out in full force today.
Get your poll watchers to the polls and challenge the voter.
The idea that massive voter fraud is committed by a bunch of goofs in Groucho glasses showing up at polls pretending to be someone else is laughable.
Traditionally, in Illinois — Chicago, suburbs, and Downstate, GOP and Dem — it’s occurred when one partisan faction controlled the election machinery in a particular jurisdiction, and voted those who didn’t show up after the polls closed.
The motivations for voter ID are bald and despicable.
Google “GOP admits voter suppression efforts.”
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:46 pm
Willy: No, I said it could be enough. Not everyone sees Rauner the way you do. They don’t follow issues and his background that closely.I said it’s his gamble. GOTV on a significant level is not going to happen for Rauner so we’ll see.
Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:47 pm
What is a reasonable time for the state to verify voter eligibility? Twenty eight days does seem a long time but registering and then voting on election day also seems ridiculous.
Again, any thoughtful responses?
Comment by Federalist Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:47 pm
- The Prince -
All good. It was more of a critique of where Rauner’s Crew is now, and where they need to be, GOTV-wise, given the Primary slippage.
No worries. The internal Rauner Crew issues will only be seen in full bloom on Election Night, and hints of that before, but unless you watch the moving parts of a campaign, Rauner’s Crew will try to hide that weak spot through November.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:52 pm
Thanks Rich. I didn’t mean for you to do research for me. For the record, I checked the online pamphlet before posting. I thought the clause you quoted was sufficient for the mail-in registration. As I read it, in-person registration would still need two forms of ID: a photo ID and something that establishes residency.
The If statements are what caused my confusion.
Comment by ChrisB Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:55 pm
==Which I suspect is going to not happen as much as people think on election day….==
Try voting in the campus district in Champaign or Urbana on election day.
==- Federalist - Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:47 pm:==
Look at NCSL
http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/same-day-registration.aspx
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 1:57 pm
=== Traditionally, in Illinois — Chicago, suburbs, and Downstate, GOP and Dem — it’s occurred when one partisan faction controlled the election machinery in a particular jurisdiction, and voted those who didn’t show up after the polls closed. ===
A clever stunt back in the day of paper ballots was accomplished by a dedicated election judge who kept a pencil lead in her long fingernails and checked the box for the preferred candidate on all the undervote ballots.
Photo ID is scarcely relevant to that.
Comment by Bill White Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:22 pm
White: Don’t forget holding down the levers before the polls opened…
Comment by The Prince Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:25 pm
==Which I suspect is going to not happen as much as people think on election day….==
Try voting in the campus district in Champaign or Urbana on election day.===
Yup. It is easy to say, “just require them to show a driver’s license to vote, what’s the big deal?”, when you are only thinking about your own situation as a middle-aged, middle class, homeowner. Yeah that is easy.
But for someone who moves every single year, or more, it is not easy at all. And that includes a very large portion of the population in certain areas, and student precincts in C-U is a great example. I have witnessed first hand lines of students with their mail in hand.
Let’s remember that not everyone’s situation is analogous to your own.
When thinking about these issues I just like to look at the numbers. Rich Miller posted how 30,000 people in Cook County failed to have their vote counted because they didn’t have an updated address on file with their voter registration. There are zero cases of in-person voter fraud in the state of Illinois. So what does more to damage the credibility of not counting votes? Not counting 30,000 votes from U.S. citizens because of strict registration deadlines, or counting an insignificant and probably non-existent number of double votes?
Comment by Big Debbie Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:48 pm
Colorado votes by mail. Wouldn’t Illinois have fun with that!
Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:49 pm
*I meant: what does more to damage the credibility of an election?
Comment by Big Debbie Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:50 pm
Precinct Captain,
Thanks for the info. It certainly provides a variety of methods that is being attempted to handle such issues.
However, it does seem many states have, to me at least, a far too lax method of actual verifying eligibility. More of a “I exist” and here some papers that say so.
Below is a rather capsulized synopsis of how this is supposedly being handled. Full of loopholes for those that want to game the system. All kinds of people have phony drivers licenses. Some state give licenses to illegal aliens with no check up. And who is to verify some receipt or bill is real- easy to make up.
“A current driver’s license or ID card will suffice in all states. In some states, documents such as a paycheck or utility bill with an address is acceptable for proving residence. A few states also permit an already-registered voter to vouch for the residency of an Election Day registrant.
Voter ID: All of the SDR states also require that voters who register and vote on Election Day present documentation to verify their identity. Some states require a photo ID; others accept IDs without a photo”
Overall, these are not real verification procedures but more political gamesmanship and a pretense that verification if for real. Of course, for those who really do not want such verification, this is not a problem.
So again, how long would it take the state to verify that a person is legally qualified to vote?
Not a ’smoke and mirrors’ approach.
I do not know the answer, but someone should and if they don’t we have a real problem.
Comment by Federalist Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:55 pm
Historically in Illinois, the two parties have put up a lot of hoops to get on the ballot and to vote in order to control their geographic areas of power.
We don’t want nobody nobody sent.
For crying out loud, the old Machines — Chicago, suburbs and Downstate — knew how to steal votes.
Making voting easier in 2014 is an expansion of democracy, not a tool of corruption.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 2:57 pm
Big Debbie…
I guess my argument was more I don’t see this helping much on campus on election day IMHO…
Back in the old days (25 years ago) all you needed to register was a dorm key and one piece of mail. We would do registration all the time, part because we got paid a small amount by DeKalb county for each registrant.
I just don’t see college students showing up in big numbers on election day with proof of residency info.
Finally if I were a college student not sure I would be a huge fan of Pat Quinn…
Comment by OneMan Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 3:07 pm
–Back in the old days (25 years ago) all you needed to register was a dorm key and one piece of mail. We would do registration all the time, part because we got paid a small amount by DeKalb county for each registrant.–
Say what? Who paid you?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 3:20 pm
OneMan:
First, I think it is important to note that this is a trial ballon to put into effect for 2016. College students DO want to vote in presidential elections (but you are right that on off-year elections that is not so true).
It is also important to note that college students are voting for the very first time, and most likely have no knowledge of how to register. Also, you don’t have to renew your driver’s license until after the age of 21 so they have not even been exposed to motor voter most likely as most don’t change their address on their driver’s license while in school.
Here is a picture of students lining up to cast votes that won’t count because they are not properly registered: http://www.news-gazette.com/image/2008-11-04/gallery-photo-28921.html
Young people may not be the most consistent voters, but that is a problem and we should be seeking ways (such as same day registration) to address it. There are a number of studies that show once you vote for the first time, you continue to vote throughout your life.
My main point, though, is that we shouldn’t focus on the POTENTIAL for shenanigans and instead of the ACTUAL tens of thousands of people disenfranchised across the state every election. I think disenfranchisement has a much bigger effect on the credibility of an election than in-person voter fraud.
Comment by Big Debbie Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 3:50 pm
I went to NIU but voted absentee in Chicago.
I remember people always trying to get me to register there. I never did. I wanted to vote so that is why I took the Greyhound to register after I turned 18.
If you want to vote, you will find a way.
Most people don’t care. Most of my friends in college would not vote even thou the voting booths were in the dorms. They just didn’t care.
To this day, some people that I know don’t vote but everyone that I grew up with or know from Chicago votes. However, more and more of them are disheartened and sick of the political system.
Comment by Jacob S Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 4:09 pm
“Here is a picture of students lining up to cast votes that won’t count because they are not properly registered: http://www.news-gazette.com/image/2008-11-04/gallery-photo-28921.html”
Their votes might count. They are casting ballots that are provisional. I was forced to cast them when my vote was challenged in a few general elections after not taking a Democratic primary ballot.
My vote had better counted. I have never missed an election.
Also, I have not moved so they had no excuses for questioning my eligibility to vote.
I will never forget the first time that it happened to me. It never happens when I take a Democratic primary ballot.
Comment by Jacob S Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 4:18 pm
This is going to be rather limited. The “election day” registration is limited to permanent early voting sites. You will in many cases have to a different, than you polling place, location to register to vote and than all the ballots will be provisional ballots and in most cases won’t be counted until two weeks after the election.
Comment by Tom Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 4:19 pm
== pilot program ==
It would be more appropriate to run and test a pilot program during a primary election than during a general. Gives you a chance to identify, evaluate and improve any flaws or surprises before “the big show”.
Assuming, of course, that the motives for this have nothing to do with a desperate attempt to drive Democratic turnout this November.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 6:29 pm
I love this part, “Requiring people to register before they actually cast a ballot presents an extra hurdle to voting that necessarily depresses turnout. In addition, many Americans don’t begin paying attention to an election until just before Election Day, ….”
So, would you rather have people voting that feel it is an honor and privilege to vote, that are aware of what’s going on over the long haul, that stay connected to what is going on? Or would you rather have someone just be able to sign up at the last minute because they couldn’t be bothered to take the time and make the effort to do it earlier?
Comment by Concerned Voter Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 7:49 pm
@Concerned Voter,
Depends upon your real motive!
Comment by Federalist Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 8:19 pm
==- Concerned Voter - Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 7:49 pm:==
1) If you lower the cost of voting, more people pay attention to political information.
http://themonkeycage.org/2012/11/06/incentivizing-participation-would-increase-voter-turnout-and-political-information/
2) At least at the presidential level, campaign effects are relatively small in most instances, particularly advertising. However, that doesn’t mean the effects are nonexistent. What is the best thing the Madigan operation does? Door knocking and walking the precincts, which research has proven to be the most effective persuasion and GOTV method at municipal, state, and national levels. What does advertising and walking the precincts do? It lowers the cost of political information because someone (a campaign) is giving it to you. For a “well informed” voter, the information might be a confirmation of existing feelings or a research shortcut. For a less well informed voter, the information may simply signal that there is an election upcoming and prime them for paying attention. Same thing for interest groups who do mailers/radio/TV. All help prime people for voting. If you lower the cost of voting, people will pay more attention to political information which they otherwise might ignore because they weren’t going to vote because the costs were too high.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 9:11 pm
Being able to vote on election day is much less of a problem than actually having a choice on who to vote for on election day. What good does it do to allow everyone but the dog the ability to vote when there is only one candidate on the ballot?
This isn’t about expanding participation in our elections, its about Democrats doing what’s best for Democrats.
Comment by Jeff Trigg Monday, Jun 2, 14 @ 9:23 pm
–So, would you rather have people voting that feel it is an honor and privilege–
It’s neither an honor nor a privilege, it’s a right, a right that that is under attack by misanthropic wingnuts seeking to suppress the vote because they can’t win a fair-and-square contest.
Again, google “GOP admits voter ID voter suppression efforts.”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 9:28 am
The only purpose of voter registration is to stop people from voting. In some cases, people not eligible to vote, this is good but in most cases it just disenfranchises people.
Comment by Tom Tuesday, Jun 3, 14 @ 10:08 am
To believe that the only purpose of voter registration is to prevent people from voting is like believing the only purpose of drivers licenses is to prevent people from driving.
It is a foolish and naive person who accepts the political nonsense that registering people is somehow a conspiracy. We have discovered that the people most often complaining about voter registration are often the same people who are registered to have a Link card, a drivers license, a photo ID to buy liquor, and are registered with numerous agencies to obtain numerous benefits. It is sheer political race baiting to claim that requiring voters to register as somehow having a sole basis in preventing a citizen from voting.
Voter registration ensures an audited election that results in fairness and justice for all, regardless of race.
Over the past twenty years, voter registration has become a political game full of silly nonsensical conspiratorial claims. It is best if that nonsense is recognized and addressed as unsuitable in our day of computers, cameras, smart phones, and satellite maps.
Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jun 5, 14 @ 9:42 pm