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Today’s quotable

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* Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider…

He didn’t provide any details, but said the party would be targeting specific precincts through the election to keep an eye out for voter fraud. “You’re going to see a ballot integrity program this year that is going to blow your mind. It’s going to be something you’ve never seen,” Schneider said.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 10:55 am

Comments

My Party’s utter failure…

… to understand what it means to have a Ground Game and a ground game presence.

If Rauner loses his race on Election Day, this quote, and My Party’s history will be easy reasons to begin the dissection.

I miss Chairman Dorgan.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:02 am
Same old song and dance from these guys. Crying voter fraud but they’ve never been able to show any widespread proof of it, then they ‘target’ democratic precincts by posting goons in or near the polling to intimidate voters. Hate to guess what he means by this so called program that will ‘blow your mind’.

Comment by Bulldog58 Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:06 am
It will be interesting to see what this entails because it could backfire in their face if it looks like they are trying to keep votes from being counted.

You’d think voter fraud is rampant. Too bad nobody has ever been able to provide any proof of that fact. It’s a completely made up controversy.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:09 am
As long as it’s all part of the larger electoral effort, which obviously involves a heavy ground game as Oswego Willy describes, then it makes sense.

Do everything, do it well, and you may win. That “larger electoral effort” obviously includes ground game, media, ballot integrity, messaging and so on.

Comment by Formerly Known As... Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:13 am
No GOTV, but “ballot integrity.” Ack.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:15 am
==”It’s going to be something you’ve never seen.”==

That means it’s not trained election judges and poll watchers?

That really scares me. I hope I’m wrong.

==”ballot integrity program”==

Does that mean better control of machines, better transmission of results, and better auditing? (all good things) Or something else?

The only actual attempted voter fraud at the polls, I’ve ever seen, (and it’s very, very rare), happened to be in strongly Republican districts.

I’m guessing that’s not where Schneider will be “targeting precincts.”

I hope this is not associated with the out-of-state groups, funded by the Koch Brothers, that have been accused of intimidating folks in the polls in Texas and elsewhere. Please let Schneider, and the ILGOP, remain independent from such bullies.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:16 am
Good, just be reasonable with it. you are off to a bad start so far. Same old rhetoric as the usual.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:19 am
I wonder what precincts they will be targeting.
I doubt it will be in Evanston, Oak Park or Streeterville/River North.

Comment by Anonish Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:19 am
I mean, we’re talking old school Old South voter suppression. It will blow your mind.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:20 am
“Ballot integrity” or as I like to call it, voter intimidation and suppression, is the only path to victory when your numbers are declining on a historic basis, when your base is old white men fearful of change and diversity, and when you can’t attract any minorities because of backwards policies that punish anyone other than old white men (typically with money).

It’s also horribly shameful. At least in states like Florida, the Republican party is admitting they don’t want everyone to vote. That’s still wrong, but at lest they’re honest about the intent of their tactics - to suppress democracy.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:21 am
sigh

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:23 am
“that is going to blow your mind”–I wonder if that will be like the Romney Campaigns Operation Orca?

Wouldn’t it be easier to win elections by actually nominating candidates that people want to vote for?

train111

Comment by train111 Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:25 am
Fact:

There are more UFO sightings in the United States than there are legitimate/prosecuted cases of voter fraud.

So yes, it is like something no one’s ever seen.

And most of the legit cases of voter fraud in recent years are actually Tea Partiers intentionally trying to commit fraud to “prove” the system is fraught with errors … but they seem to always get caught in the process which actually proves the system is not fraught with errors.

Mind = blown.

Comment by Not Five Thirty Eight Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:30 am
A political party of such little significance as the Illinois GOP currently has, should be seen as trying to get more votes - not watching for who does vote.

It is kind of like hearing GM say that they are worried about all the recalls Toyota has had recently.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:33 am
“Wouldn’t it be easier to win elections by actually nominating candidates that people want to vote for?” I think Train111 might have something there…I wonder when someone is going to try it?

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:37 am
There were over 50 precincts that had zero votes for Republican for President in 2012. Official in Cook co. implying any Republican could suppress any vote in Chicago is a joke! Both parties in Cook co are run by the Democrats, anyone who says the GOP controls 50 of the 80 wards or townships in Cook/Chicago is joking or lying. There are precincts that don’t even have Republican ballots on election day and it happens every election day.
With the hold the Democrat committeemen have over peoples homes and businesses any complaint about voter suppression is made to stop the status Que from being changed.

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:38 am
It’s a shame they won’t have Gubernatorial Candidate Integrity!

Comment by D.P.Gumby Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:42 am
There may be Republican ballots on primary day but certainly there is no such thing on election day. Regular ballots, Federal ballots and provisional ballots. Parties run primaries, counties run the regular elections.

Comment by Bourbonrich Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:42 am
Bourbonrich- The point is Cook/Chicago they don’t even put GOP ballots out on primary election day in numerous precincts and it happens every time.

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:48 am
===Bourbonrich- The point is Cook/Chicago they don’t even put GOP ballots out on primary election day in numerous precincts and it happens every time.===

Which exact PrecinctSSS.

Which ones? Where?

Being a victim is easy. Facts are harder to come up with, eh?

These Dopey ideals are why My Party fails at a Ground Game, fails in understanding what happens on Election Day, and Dopey crocodile tears rule the day.

Pathetic.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 11:55 am
Votercount, where is the list of these precincts? Where are the people who asked for a republican ballot and were told “no, you can’t have one.”?

Comment by 100 Miles West Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:00 pm
- Bourbonrich - My wife and I pulled Republican ballots a few years ago (Wood for Gov.) There was only one Republican set-up. Everyone apologized, a second one was set-up immediately. Apparently they had never had two R’s at once, but they knew what to do when it happened. (By the way, our daughter has never forgiven us for pulling an R)

Comment by uptown progressive Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:06 pm
votecounter:

I’ve watched for thirty years, and never seen what you describe — not to say it never happened. I’m mostly around the Cook Co suburbs.

I am sure Tim Schneider, himself a Cook County Commissioner, would be surprised to hear that ==”in Cook County both parties are run by Democrats.”==

My own Republican Township Committeeman would also be shocked. As would my Republican State Rep and Senator.

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:07 pm
Why announce it? Sounds like an idle threat.

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:19 pm
Votecounter is right. This has happened in Chicago. Sometimes it’s a matter of the election judge not providing a GOP ballot when requested.

Comment by The Prince Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:27 pm
Or the booths aren’t set up first thing am for the Republican voters.

Comment by The Prince Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:29 pm
walker there are wards and townships that it takes 31 votes to be committeeman, they are run by the democrats. I was asked to find judges in some 500 precincts I worked with the Chicago GOP we had alderman and committeemen calling the chicago office complaining that they appoint the judges and always have.
Do the ballots get there? Yes but only if someone asks I have a list of over 50 Precincts from 12 wards that had zero GOP votes in 2012.
Just because there are a few elected positions in Cook help by the GOP shows nothing. If you lived here or tried to address the trouble in this county you would see that I am correct. And believe me your committeeman and elected reps know what I’m saying is true unless you live in the southwest suburbs. The African Americans stuck with no choices on election day know it.

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:36 pm
- The Prince -,

Where specifically? Really, where?

Where are all these precincts???

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:37 pm
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain who is in the polling booth with you! Ahhh there is no place like home.

Comment by Kerfuffle Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:40 pm
Not all I suppose, and it’s been awhile since I saw it happen. My wife had to either wait or come back for a GOP ballot at least once.

Comment by The Prince Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:43 pm
There are electronic voting machines in ever polling place in Illinois and have been since 2006. There is always D and R ballots in the polling place.

Comment by Tom Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:52 pm
Schneider hasn’t been able to carry his own townshhip (Hanover) in NW Cook for Republicans in general elections. His congressman is Tammy Duckworth, who clobbered Joe Walsh in Hanover Twp. His state senator is Mike Nolan. His state rep is either Fred Crespo or Farnham’s replacement. Republicans don’t even hold township offices in Hanover, running as independents instead. Some leadershi

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:52 pm
Schneider hasn’t been able to carry his own townshhip (Hanover) in NW Cook for Republicans in general elections. His congressman is Tammy Duckworth, who clobbered Joe Walsh in Hanover Twp. His state senator is Mike Nolan. His state rep is either Fred Crespo or Farnham’s replacement. Republicans don’t even hold township offices in Hanover, running as independents instead. Some leadership.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:52 pm
Consider his audience–McLean County Republicans at a luncheon in the middle of a workday– probably an almost all-white mostly male audience little diversity. These folks are so sure that there is voter fraud in Cook County and Chicago precincts. The stories about what great voting records some deceased residents have, “vote early and Often” I hear a lot.

The title of the article says a lot about the man’s comments–”State GOP chair sticks to talking points in B-N stop.”

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:55 pm
Actually, I should say all polling places in COOK County and City of Chicago have electronic voting equipment.

Comment by Tom Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:56 pm
Before the Henny Penny’s start squawking about Jim Crow, intimidation, and the Koch brothers, he very well could just mean having a significant presence of poll watchers, election judges, and lawyers at the ready. Somehow, it’s fine when the wardheelers and patronage armies do it, but it’s suppression and intimidation on the other side.

Frankly, I think they would get more bang for their buck by opening all those fully-staffed regional field offices they were talking about.

Comment by LincolnLounger Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:57 pm
Keep it up. You will lose with this issue since the problem is virtually non existent.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 12:59 pm
OW
I am not crying victim hood I am stating what I have argued for years. Why would a party who’s strength is grassroots allow their opposition to write the rules for their organization? Why does the GOP play by the Democrat rules by running as Ward and Township committeemen? The GOP has no chance of competing in those kinds of races in those areas. The GOP should have changed their organizational focus to precinct Committeemen. There is 5072 precincts in Cook co could they fill all of them? No but as we saw last year allot of African Americans agree with the life and family stands of the GOP but never knew it because they “Never met a Republican”! You have no idea how many times I have heard that over the last 5 years. They never met a Republican because there is no Republican party trying to grow in their neighborhood. If there is no party apparatus there is no way for them to have a choice on election day. It’s that simple. As I said above there are precincts that the GOP committeemen is elected with 35 votes. How do you challenge that? The Democrat committeemen has a vested interest in keeping the GOP out of their ward or township don’t they? It’s simple no GOP no opposition. Those precincts also have to have judges and early voting judges and they get to appoint them, they are paid positions! It might not be much to you but in communities that male unemployment is above 90% believe me it means allot. Over 25% of the GOP primary vote comes out of Cook co. how much more would it be if the GOP tried to expand and grow by going block to block with precinct committeemen?

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 1:00 pm
Is there vote fraud in Cook County? If the measure of vote fraud in Cook County is prosecutions by the Cook County State’s Attorney, the answer is no.

Comment by Anon III Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 1:44 pm
Sounds like their game plan has been devised by Jerry Angelo.

Comment by Great Caesar's Ghost Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 1:44 pm
“Wouldn’t it be easier to win elections by actually nominating candidates that people want to vote for?”

Sadly, GOP voters decide that. Anyone interested in going back to a convention system of nomination?

Comment by CLJ Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:05 pm
Meh, I’ll believe it when I see it. Not like there has been an army of GOP foot soldiers in Cook County at least for a very long time.

But if you can enlist a ground army of poll watchers, I’d suggest trying to get them to knock on some doors in the weeks preceding.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:19 pm
I suppose it’s possible they could hire poll watchers rather than rely on volunteers.

Either way, I hope they have the good sense to rely on actual residents of the neighborhood. Shipping in non-residents to knock down votes might be considered bad optics in some circles.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:33 pm
- votevounter -,

The point is laziness by the ILGOP, or even the CCGOP, does not constituent “wide spread corruption” of the process.

Being active in a larger GOTV would benefit the entire apparatus and building of My Party, but that doesn’t mean this idea of massive corruption is afoot .

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:34 pm
Every precinct in Chicago had Republican votes cast in the 2014 primary. Perhaps if votecounter could be more specific…

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:34 pm
In Cook County where Tim Schneider lives and where he’s a public official, the GOP couldn’t get one single person on the ballot for any of the county-wide offices. Scads of spots for state rep, state senator, judge, and congress also vacant.

Just more empty talk. And besides, if anyone is playing election hanky-panky it’s just as likely to be a Republican in this state.

Comment by too obvious Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:35 pm
Skeptic
Thats why it is so strange that 59 of those precincts had no GOP votes in a Presidential year! Those are the high turnout years here are the wards
6th,7th,9th,15th,16th,17th,20th,21st,24th,27th,28th,29th,34th, I can also name the precincts if you need. There are 37 of them all together.

Ow Agreed but I was answering the people who said it was voter suppression.

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:53 pm
votecounter, have you ever spent any time in those precincts?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:54 pm
sorry 37 is the number not 59!!!

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:54 pm
Rich

Yes I have, I worked with people to get people they wanted on the ballot but was unable to get them through the caucus’s. I have been working with people in these areas for 5 years now

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:57 pm
VC: (a) Those precincts were small, all of them less than 1,000 people. And having 0 votes for Mitt Romney does not mean that there were 0 Republican votes cast. It could easily be that none of them wanted to vote for Mitt. I’ll bet you’d find similar numbers for Alan Keyes vs. Barack Obama.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 2:57 pm
skeptic
My point is that there is no way for the GOP to suppress votes in Chicago or Cook. There is no party so they can’t suppress votes. You said every precinct had GOP votes you asked and I showed you. I didn’t say it was stolen I said there is no party and there can’t be with those kinds of numbers, if the GOP doesn’t change and keeps wards and townships rules.

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 3:12 pm
vc: Ah, I had the impression that you were crying foul on the Democrats. “There are precincts that don’t even have Republican ballots on election day and it happens every election day.” That sounds like you’re accusing the the Democrats of voter suppression (by not giving R’s a piece of paper to make their choices.) Forgive me if I misunderstood. “Ballots” are the things you cast your “votes” on.

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 3:29 pm
Sounds like the ILGOP got a good deal on some second-hand project ORCA software leftover from the Romney debacle..

Comment by Mcleaniac Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 3:40 pm
Very surprised this is something the IL GOP is willing to admit. I was encouraged when I saw the voting rights amendment pass through the House and Senate with wide support from Republicans. But then they voted as a caucus against same-day registration, and now appear set to go back to the days of old school voter integrity programs.

=====”It’s going to be something you’ve never seen.”==

That means it’s not trained election judges and poll watchers?

That really scares me. I hope I’m wrong.===

If he is serious, I would be concerned for a state-wide “caging” program - where the GOP sends postcards to certain precincts and then challenges voters based on returned cards. This is NOT a legitimate way to challenge voters, for various reasons, and the RNC must get court approval before sending mailers to African American precincts in New Jersey because of a caging program there in the ’80s and a resulting decree from a federal court.

If you are interested in more information on it, check it out here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_caging

Hopefully it is nothing like some of the egregious voter caging programs from elsewhere in the country, but for sure something to be on the look-out for now that they’ve tipped their hat a little.

Comment by Big Debbie Tuesday, Jun 17, 14 @ 3:51 pm