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* AP…
In Illinois, Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to encourage poll workers to mark space on the floor at polling sites to keep voters a safe distance apart and avoid spreading the virus. The tweet included a photo of a roll of blue tape, a piece of string and a tape measure along with a note that concludes: “THIS PICTURE CAN SAVE LIVES.”
Yarbrough said shortly after the polls opened, however, that she had heard of no problems at the county’s polling sites and expected “things to go well” on Tuesday.
“I’m just hopeful that we’ll have a good day voting for the people,” she said.
Not since New York City postponed its mayoral primary on the day of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has an election been pushed off in such a high-profile, far-reaching way. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine initially asked a court to delay the vote, and when a judge refused to do so the state’s health director declared a health emergency that would prevent the polls from opening.
Voting is proceeding in DuPage County.
By 8:00 AM, 9,894 voters had cast ballots today, for an overall turnout of 8% of 49,745 cast. DuPage County has 613,430 registered voters.
No additional polling places have been closed today. […]
This morning, the DuPage County Division of Transportation delivered additional stocks of hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies to every polling place in DuPage County. A team of 25 field representatives will be deployed across the County throughout the day to keep polling places restocked with supplies.
* Daily Herald…
The continuing spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the closure of seven Lake County polling places for Tuesday’s primary election — but alternate sites have been established.
* SJ-R…
It’s 7:15 a.m. and Sangamon County clerk Don Gray is pleased.
“We opened every poll on time and everyone is staffed,” Gray said. “I’m proud of how the election judges have stepped up and done their civic duty.”
There are 79 polling stations for 180 precincts. And Gray says those polls are safe. Voters will have hand sanitizer and election judges will be wiping down every surface at the polls with disinfectant wipes.
* But Chicago (surprise!) is a freaking mess. And to cover themselves, election officials are shifting blame…
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners spokesman Jim Allen said city election officials asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker to call off in-person voting but the governor declined.
Allen said board of election officials spoke with the Governor’s staff last week hours after health authorities declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
“We were urging the postponement of the election, the abandonment of the polling place model of voting and a conversion to vote by mail for the safety of the voting public,” Allen said.
“They’ve been trying to get away from in-precinct [voting] for years and we always say no,” explained one top Dem about Chicago election authorities. “It’s insane,” the person added. “They are government officials. They should be doing their jobs not making it worse simply to cover their own [behinds].”
* This was my question during the conference call…
Q: Why is Chicago lagging the rest of the state? Other election authorities are not having these issues.
Allen: Our preparedness is a contingency the governor's staff reviewed as far back in January. They said we had the most comprehensive plan in the state.
— A.D. Quig (@ad_quig) March 17, 2020
Having a plan is one thing, executing it is quite another.
* They simply did not do their jobs and now want to blame others when nobody else is complaining like this…
Chicago elections board spokesman asked about this on press call. He says most voters will cast paper ballots; touch screens are for primarily those who need non-English ballots. Says supplies were ordered Nov-Jan when no inkling of pandemic, then board stockpiled when possible. https://t.co/G2KnC0vAXA
— Amanda Vinicky (@AmandaVinicky) March 17, 2020
He was also unaware of an offer by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide the city with hand sanitizer and dodged a question about the state’s offer to supply 2,000 high school kids in a state program which was apparently denied when city elections officials refused to waive polling place training requirements.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Jordan Abudayyeh…
Our nation and our state are facing a crisis at the moment. Over the last week, so many leaders have stepped up to the plate to offer innovative solutions to our challenges and, unfortunately, there are those who have shirked their responsibility.
Last week, the Chicago Board of Elections held a call with the Governor’s office, the House Speaker and the Senate President where they voiced concern about having enough election judges. The Governor’s Office offered to provide the National Guard to help staff the election and we also worked to recruit volunteers. 2000 young people from the Mikva Challenge were turned away from volunteering because the board wouldn’t reduce red tape. So instead of accepting help or offering any solutions of their own, the Chicago Board of Elections decided to wait until Election Day to get on a call with press and make politically charged accusations.
The Governor cannot unilaterally cancel or delay an election. Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy and we could not risk confusion and disenfranchisement in the courts. No one is saying this is a perfect solution. We have no perfect solutions at the moment. We only have least bad solutions.
What’s concerning is that the board has time to play politics instead of doing their job. Instead of hosting a press call to pass on the blame for their failures, we would urge the Chicago Board of Elections to focus on ensuring our democracy can continue as uninterrupted as possible by troubleshooting the issues at the polls.
This administration and the Governor are focused on our critical health needs around the state today. The Chicago Board of Elections should find a way to do their job.
…Adding… Agreed…
In my opinion, the comments by the Chicago Board of Elections are aimed at suppressing voter turnout, and frankly show an incredible lack of judgment. Their only job is to run the election in Chicago. They should not be providing personal opinions or interfering with an election.
— Heather WV (@HWV123) March 17, 2020
*** UPDATE 2 *** Jim Allen has stepped into a buzzsaw…
The Governor has been trying to balance continuity of government, not disenfranchising people who already voted, avoiding a legal crisis & keeping everyone safe. The Chicago Board of Elections have been worried about scoring cheap political points.
— Anne Caprara (@anacaprana) March 17, 2020
*** UPDATE 3 *** Walkback…
Allen now says: "I apologize for letting some of the emotions" surrounding the difficult election get the best of him. "I feel regret for reacting the way I did" to a Q about whether low turnout was "a blessing." https://t.co/IC28yC4eiF
— Hal Dardick (@ReporterHal) March 17, 2020
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:41 am
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“Chicago elections board spokesman asked about this on press call. He says most voters will cast paper ballots; touch screens are for primarily those who need non-English ballots”
Huh? When I went to early vote, we were immediately sent to the touch screens. There was no mention of a paper ballot being available.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:46 am
What’s he thinking?
- Rod Blagojevich
Comment by Pat Quinn Mowing Grass Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:48 am
“apparently denied when city elections officials refused to waive polling place training requirements.”
That was then…today they’re asking young, able-bodied people to show up to local polling places and volunteer, without any training or coordination.
It’s hard to ask for a shake-up of this system…the Chicago Board of Elections is appointed by the Circuit Court, which is not known for being held publicly accountable.
Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:48 am
===defend the Governor===
Bite me. The governor can’t cancel an election. They were told that over and over. Their incompetence is at issue here.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:49 am
From social media, it doesn’t seem than Karen Yarborough is actually doing any better than the Chicago Board of Elections. Not only is this a time to consider adopting the Oregon VBM model, it’s also a time to consider removing elections authority from the Cook County Clerk, abolishing the Chicago Board of Elections, and establishing a Cook County elections commission.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:52 am
===which was apparently denied when city elections officials refused to waive polling place training requirements. ===
Well they are allowing anyone in good health to be deputized on the spot by the other judges now. The only defense Chicago MAY have is they historically have a lot of judges that are seniors and many of them cancelled. But I assume other jurisdictions should be in the same predicament.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:55 am
===Huh? When I went to early vote, we were immediately sent to the touch screens. There was no mention of a paper ballot being available.
This is true in a lot of jurisdictions. Always ask for the paper (optical scan) ballot–they are the most likely to be accurate.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:55 am
Unprecedented times, surely. Pointing fingers always shines the light on those not willing, or too incompetent, to lead.
Maybe the silver lining will be people afforded positions they are not qualified for being removed.
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:56 am
Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough promised hand sanitizer, wipes for the equipment and we have nothing. Many of the Election Judges and voters are senior citizens and are at risk of contracting COVID 19. Yarbrough should spend less time hawking TV appearances and more time doing her job.
Comment by Help me Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:57 am
Anonymous at 10:56
If Pritzker had postponed the primary you would be one of the first ones on here decrying the “authoritarian stance” and the “inability to exercise your constitutional rights”.
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 10:59 am
===reckless, irresponsible===
Both the city’s public health director and the state’s public health director endorsed the decision to move forward. The city’s person strongly encouraged it.
The greatest opposition I’ve seen are among Bernie supporters who want to delay this thing until they can figure out how to get back in the game.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:00 am
=== How does JB’s comment about the Federal government needing to get it’s #$%^ together to keep people safe look now?===
Are lines at the airports smaller now?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:00 am
I am told by a friend who has been an election judge in suburban Cook County for quite a number of years that training this year was absolutely terrible.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:00 am
I am positive that if the Governor had the power to shut down Election Day and convert all voting to vote by mail that given a two week notice the Chicago and Cook County election authorities would have pulled that off without a problem
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:00 am
===Chicago and Cook County election authorities would have pulled that off without a problem===
You forgot the snark tag. /s
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:02 am
The mending and hawing and finger pointing books down to this update…
=== “The Governor cannot unilaterally cancel or delay an election … Instead of hosting a press call to pass on the blame for their failures, we would urge the Chicago Board of Elections to focus on ensuring our democracy can continue” ===
The rest? The rest is finger pointing and blame by this worried group who seemingly have decided they are not meeting the challenges.
The governor’s office’s response in that grab is everything.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:02 am
My high school senior (who just voted for the first time) was one of those kids rejected from being an election judge earlier this year. Way to encourage interest in civics!
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:03 am
== - DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:00 am:
I am positive that if the Governor had the power to shut down Election Day and convert all voting to vote by mail that given a two week notice the Chicago and Cook County election authorities would have pulled that off without a problem ==
WITHOUT a problem? Not even close.
Comment by southsider Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:03 am
=== had the power===
He doesn’t.
Why are we discussing dorm room choices that are unavailable?
With respect… In this specific instance, it was not an option discussed or possible.
I am not convinced any of the local boards of elections are fully prepared for full “mail only” elections.
With respect.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:05 am
I’m not fond of early voting though it obviously was good for this year. The idea of voting by mail I find abhorrent. The procedures we have in place today were designed to combat a history of fraud. In most jurisdictions they work. Cook County seems to be a regular exception.
Comment by Downstate Illinois Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:06 am
===Other states like Ohio canceled/postponed their elections like Gov. DeWine…Was Mr. Madigan simply against it?
DeWine did it over a court ruling. Tell me about the rule of law.
Trying to convert an election to vote by mail in the middle of the election is going to be challenging in the best of times and we are in a pandemic. Voting should be safer than going to the grocery store with a little bit of caution.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:08 am
The board does, literally, have one job.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:08 am
===. The idea of voting by mail I find abhorrent.
We could still be fighting this in November. Regardless, we need to consider it as an option in the case of public health crises and other disasters. However, that would be with planning and time to sort it out.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:09 am
If only Chicago was its own state. /s
Comment by Bruce (no not him) Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:10 am
Sorry my comment was a snark. I got sloppy but thought that it was too obviously a snark And no snark, cheers to all judges and workers that show up. Can be a thankless job
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:10 am
=== Other states like Ohio canceled/postponed…===
… against a court order.
Overruling the court.
I can just hear *that* finger pointing;
“The Democrat majority decided when elections will happen, even against the law to keep power in the hands of the status quo”
I’ll be clear to my own personal thoughts…
Governor DeWine lost his credibility to the laws and constitution of the state of Ohio.
It only took one township, one county, to decide to follow the decree versus the court order, and now it’s all lost. It won’t matter. The legal process to conduct elections is now an “optional” action in Ohio, even with court orders.
The idea that an Executive can go outside the legality of running elections, that is an absence of leadership.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:11 am
I definitely believe Jim Allen over Caprara. 10000000%.
Comment by ;) Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:12 am
===Overruling the court.
It appears the Ohio Supreme Court ruled to postpone overnight.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:15 am
Ohio’s Governor and Health Director determined congregating in groups - be it at schools, events, or voting - was too dangerous to the public health. So they acted. Pritzker closed all events other than elections. Governors own.
Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:18 am
“The Ohio Supreme Court, in an early-morning order, declined an 11th-hour request to force the state to move forward with its primary elections that were originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed on Monday by Gov. Mike DeWine due to the coronavirus threat.“
The Supreme Court declined to rule, declined to hear the argument.
That’s a bit different than ruling on the move by the governor or the ruling of the lower court?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:19 am
We had a few places moved away from nursing homes, etc. but that was a week ago. As far as I can see, things going normally in McHenry.
But I am highly curious about this: Would machine voters be MORE likely or LESS likely to vote under these circumstances?
I seriously doubt the CBE wants to suppress voting. They just want to Cover Their A%$.
Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:20 am
=== Governors own.===
So the rule of law and the statutes to elections… and the process… the governor owns that?
Yeah. That’s the job.
I’m always interested in consistency…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:22 am
===Pritzker closed all events other than elections===
No, he didn’t. The EO has several exemptions.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:22 am
Frankly it’s so confusing I don’t know what exactly they ordered.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:23 am
One thing the crisis is exposing is all the places where disinvestment and neglect have weakened us, and where incompetent people like Jim Allen and the Chicago Board of Elections have been trusted with responsibility they can’t handle.
A lot will need to be fixed when we get to the other side of this disaster.
Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:24 am
The governor does not have authority to overturn state law — even during an emergency. He can undo or change agency rules (like extend the deadline to request a absentee ballot,) and he has broad statutory authority to limit commerce in a health crisis. But he can’t cancel the election or even extend the date when absentee ballots are excepted because those things are specifically written into state law.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:29 am
==and a conversion to vote by mail==
What a wonderful idea given how we can always rely on the USPS to get our important mail to us in a timely manner. /s. In the past year, the USPS failed to deliver my property tax bill (thankfully, I know when my taxes are due and went to the Treasurer’s Office for a duplicate); failed to timely deliver a utility bill for propane which is not sent monthly, but only when the tank is refilled (ended up paying a late fee because it finally arrived well after the due date); and failed to deliver correspondence from my accountant seeking information about my taxes; bank statements; and other important mail.
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:30 am
======Huh? When I went to early vote, we were immediately sent to the touch screens. There was no mention of a paper ballot being available.
This is true in a lot of jurisdictions. Always ask for the paper (optical scan) ballot–they are the most likely to be accurate.===
In the city, I think all of the early voting was on touchscreens, which then printed your ballot, which were then scanned into machines.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:33 am
Voting today is a mistake. Ordered my vote by mail ballot on Thursday and still haven’t gotten it yet. First time in 13 years I’ll have missed an election.
Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:35 am
==- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:33 am:==
EV in the city and suburbs is on touchscreens because it’s the only feasible way to have all of the ballot styles.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:38 am
===In the city, I think all of the early voting was on touchscreens, which then printed your ballot, which were then scanned into machines.
Seriously? I don’t understand how jurisdictions keep making voting more complicated.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:38 am
Whoever can endorse holding the elections. It’s still dumb. The concept is in direct contrast to all good practices encouraged and now being enforced. You couldn’t pay me to step into a polling place today.
Comment by Sonny Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:39 am
===EV in the city and suburbs is on touchscreens because it’s the only feasible way to have all of the ballot styles.
So you are printing out a ballot to then scan. Almost like there is a way to print optical scan ballots at the location.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:42 am
What happened to the phrase “Use common sense”?
Comment by just curious Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:43 am
=You couldn’t pay me to step into a polling place today.=
Well that’s good because that would be illegal. Nobody is being forced to vote today and for those that said something could have been done by Pritzker a week ago, well that same choice existed for voters.
I voted this morning. The process was orderly efficient and over in 5 minutes. And then I went to the grocery store to get essentials. I felt much safer at my polling place.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:44 am
The ability to vote on election day is always contingent.On weather, personal health or obligations that may intervene. That’s why there is early voting. And many many took advantage of that. I did. Too many votes have been cast, you can’t cancel now. Besides, it’s just a primary…
Comment by Banish Misfortune Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:50 am
=== he can postpone an election.===
This governor, any governor, can’t
The governor can’t.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:51 am
== The Governor can’t cancel an election. ==
I respectfully disagree. The Emergency Management Agency Act authorizes the Governor to:
“To control ingress and egress to and from a disaster area, the movement of persons within the area, and the occupancy of premises therein.”
The entire State is a disaster area. The cited provision therefore gives the Governor power to control movement throughout the State and the occupancy of buildings. Caselaw extends the Governor’s powers to include anything that is “necessarily or fairly implied in or incident to the power conferred”. If the language of the statute is sufficient to allow the Governor to control movement within and occupancy of businesses, it is also sufficient to allow him to control the ingress, egress and occupancy of polling places on Election Day. Controlling occupancy of polling places by postponing the election would be an exercise that is necessarily or fairly implied in or incident to the power conferred to the Governor by the statute. Also, if the Governor has the power to suspend a portion of one non-regulatory statute that relates to governing (the Open Meetings Act) to protect public health, consistency means that he has the same power to suspend that portion of the Election Code that sets the date for an election, for the same reason.
Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:53 am
===(10 ILCS 5/20-25)
This is only about people in military service. It helps to read the entire article.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:54 am
==… against a court order.
Overruling the court.==
Not really. The Ohio courts declined to enter an order postponing the election. They did not rule on whether or not the Ohio public health director could do so, and her statutory authority appears sound.
I am not aware of any similar authority vested in the IL Executive Branch.
Comment by Boog Alou Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 11:57 am
Everyone deflecting blame from Pritzker by saying that places outside outside Chicago are running their elections more smoothly: you realize that has nothing to do with coronavirus is being transmitted in those locations, right? Even assuming a well-staffed, orderly polling place, all it takes is one voter with unwashed hands handing a pen back to an elderly poll worker. Coronavirus doesn’t care about the division of power between the governor and the local election board.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:00 pm
There are two issues here:
1) Can the Governor postpone an election?
I find the arguments weak, but even if that is the case…
2) Should the Governor postpone the election?
Extending the voting by mail is difficult to do in the middle of the election. It takes a fair amount of coordination including mailing a lot more ballots.
Delaying in person voting doesn’t solve anything given the likely time frame we are looking at.
So I don’t see that the Governor had the authority and I don’t think it would have been a good idea. Voting in a primary doesn’t generally lead to long lines so I don’t see this as different from going to grocery store.
Comment by Archpundit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:00 pm
- SouthSide Markie -
Agreed.
Respectfully disagree, to the extent that the governor and legal counsel must’ve looked upon those powers and that thought, also knowing that your cite will be used to counter.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:06 pm
I’m going to read Heather Weir Vaught’s tweet as a full throated endorsement of a Fair Map. /s
Comment by Gary The Rabbit Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:19 pm
South Side Markie. If the authority you cited were used to in effect cancel the election, by shutting down polling places on health grounds, where would the authority to conduct a subsequent election, let alone one using all mail-in, come from? Isn’t the date for the primary election set in law?
Comment by Rasselas Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:26 pm
Illinois law requires local election authorities to count ballots and report totals to the state board following today’s election. Is anyone suggesting that the governor could cite health concerns to bar people from voting today and to extend the deadline for counting ballots? The health risks for counting ballots are far different and it is not remotely clear that the governor could unilaterally extend that process.
Comment by DIstant watcher Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:28 pm
== Rasselas ==
The requirements of the Open Meetings Act which the Governor suspended are also set in law. My argument is that if he had the power to suspend one, he has the power to suspend the other. His authority to conduct a subsequent election is provided by his ability to take actions which are necessarily or fairly implied or incident to a power provided to him.
Comment by SouthSide Markie Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:35 pm
=== The requirements of the Open Meetings Act which the Governor suspended are also set in law.===
Different statues, also with covering different remedies.
===he has the power to suspend the other.===
Relief is not the same for both, however.
There’s a reason dates (framing of the floating, yet consistent date) are prescribed and relief.
OMA is a function within governing.
A function of the governing versus the locked date and the relief to change are different.
That might be the argument?
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:40 pm
=If the authority you cited were used to in effect cancel the election, by shutting down polling places on health grounds, where would the authority to conduct a subsequent election, let alone one using all mail-in, come from? =
I’m going to operate under the assumption that all of these laws have been vetted by attorneys and the analysis likely goes well beyond what was posted here.
Pritzker may have been within his rights to prevent people from occupying establishments including polling places. But the election was today and nothing was going to change that. A great number of people have already voted. Imagine the consequences and outcry if it was deemed that the election “happened” today whether the polls were open or closed and that results would be determined based on ballots cast either by mail or early voting. There’s no assurance that there would have been “another” election. And even if there was an attempt to hold “another” election it most surely would have been contested by someone based on established law.
As Rich is often fond of saying, simple solutions to problems are rarely simple.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:41 pm
===he has the power to suspend the other===
SECTION 4. ELECTION LAWS
The General Assembly by law shall define permanent residence for voting purposes, insure secrecy of voting and the integrity of the election process, and facilitate registration and voting by all qualified persons. Laws governing voter registration and conduct of elections shall be general and uniform. (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:01 pm
In matters of elections, the discretionary powers of elected officials to change them are deliberately very, very restricted (for reasons that become self-evident when you understand that “change” is often a euphemism for “tamper with”).
An elected official’s bad decisions can usually be corrected by subsequent elections, that isn’t the case when the bad decisions about changes to the elections themselves.
Illinois elections simply cannot be changed at the last minute — and they can’t be changed at the last minute for good and obvious reasons.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:03 pm
It’s a sorry game of deflection on the part of the chicago board of elections. They thought the election would get cancelled and sat on their hands. They should have been planning not just for the election but hosting one during covid 19. Given that the gov’s office offered a host of assistance and said the elections had to forge ahead, it’s a cheap political shot on the part of cboe.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:05 pm
Governors own?
Comment by JB13 Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:10 pm
Had they taken the governor up on any of what was offered, the governor would own that, yep.
You turn down help, then try to blame those offering assistance, that’s on the finger pointer.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:12 pm
Folks, I do not get the anger directed at Jim Allen.
He is the hired spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. When he makes statements or issues press releases, he is acting on behalf of the Board.
If you’re displeased with the statements, remember the real decisions are made by the Commissioners (Marisel A. Hernandez, William J. Kresse, and Jonathan T. Swain) and the Executive Director (Lance Gough). Allen is only the messenger. Blame the Commissioners for the debacle.
My surmise is the same as a previous commentator that the Chicago Board of Elections expected a postponement and the Governor surprised them by closing almost everything else while insisting that the primary proceed. The appointed and well compensated Commissioners need to take the heat for not being prepared.
Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:13 pm
Has anyone not had the opportunity to vote?
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:24 pm
===Chicago Board of Elections expected a postponement ===
Nope. Nobody ever once suggested that until they did.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:30 pm
== Has anyone not had the opportunity to vote? ==
Only those who stayed away from the polls for fear of contracting a fatal illness.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:35 pm
I thought the Governor and others did a good job of encouraging early voting and vote by mail.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:39 pm
=== Only those who…===
… chose not to early vote or vote by mail.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:40 pm
“=== Only those who…===
… chose not to early vote or vote by mail. ”
Lol. Peak white privilege. The ability to have weekends off, navigate the mail ballot process isn’t something everyone has access to. But go ahead and assume your experience is universal. Love to blame the disenfranchised for their own disenfranchisement, huh? Who needs things like empathy or understanding or compassion or…
This whole debacle is THE reason we need to adopt to the Washington model of automatic mail balloting.
Comment by Gov Joe Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:52 pm
===Peak white privilege.===
Vote by mail is “white privilege”
Huh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:54 pm
Pray tell. What innovative solutions did anyone offer?
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:55 pm
===automatic mail balloting.===
Voting by mail “here” is too difficult?
I’m confused.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:58 pm
While the Commissioners are ultimately responsible, it looks like the Executive Director Lance Gough (who is retiring after this election) has some ’splaining to do - https://www.govtech.com/security/Audit-Chicago-Elections-Board-Not-Ready-for-a-Cyberattack.html
Comment by Rasselas Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:02 pm
===automatic mail balloting.===
Voting by mail “here” is too difficult?
I’m confused.
Obviously.
Washington state, among others, that care about everyone voting send every person a mail ballot without needing a request. Illinois forces people to navigate county clerks that may or may not be up to the task, organized, eager to help, etc. It’s a huge difference in enfranchising the poor and immigrants who may or may not have the same ability to navigate an unfamliar, never used system.
Comment by Gov Joe Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:06 pm
=== Obviously===
Yeah. I’m not.
I’m sorry you think the vote by mail system here is disenfranchising, and the days and weeks of open early voting is disenfranchising too… making it a “white privilege” item kinda trivializes the whole act of voting unless it meets your criteria. Then it’s not “white privilege”
Appreciate your take.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:29 pm
=== Blame the Commissioners for the debacle. ===
You can blame Lance Gough and the commissioners for the failure to plan for these contingencies and/or execute the plan.
As Heather WV points out, this is par for the course for the Chicago Board of Elections.
Truthfully, every decent campaign and committeemen operation has a small army of volunteers just to report and manage all of the screw ups by the board at polling places each election because the board of elections cannot manage to find its own behind with both hands and a map.
But Allen? He has pretty much one job: do not undermine the integrity of the election. He failed at it again today, miserably, and his non-apology was woefully inadequate.
Blame Allen for all all of the Bernie Bros on Twitter right now questioning the integrity of the election. Blame Allen when future governors announce they are postponing elections because “we don’t want to be like Chicago.” Blame Allen when “postpone the elections” becomes a part of the Trump strategy.
But don’t blame the legislature if they decide to merge The Chicago Board of Elections into the Cook County Clerk’s elections.
Allen should offer his resignation.
Comment by Charlie Brown Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:30 pm
What about when Trump cancels election in the fall, “for safety”. Will you like postponing elections then?
Comment by Banish Misfortune Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:50 pm
“The ability to have weekends off, navigate the mail ballot process isn’t something everyone has access to.”
Oh come on.
It took less than a minute and was easier than buying concert tickets.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 5:08 pm