Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

The latest outrage

Posted in:

Illinois

* Center Square headline…

Some Illinois mail-in ballot request reminders sent to out-of-state addresses

* Scroll down, though, and you’ll see why…

“If someone had previously requested a [vote by mail] ballot at an out-of-state address, or if the election authority for some other reason has that address on file, the election authority was required under the new law to send an application there,” said Matt Dietrich, a spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Elections. […]

Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said some reminders may be to so-called “snowbirds” who’ve requested absentee ballots for out-of-state addresses in the past, but the updated law breeds confusion.

“I wish this wasn’t happening,” Gray told WMAY radio. “It’s kind of frustrating all of this additional other measures on top which I think are well intentioned but they’re really just confusing people more and it’s eroding the confidence in the system.”

Not sure how this is confusing or bad for the Illinoisans spending their fall in Florida, Arizona or wherever. Most of the folks I know who do that are Republicans, by the way. But some people just love to spin conspiracy theories these days and look for every evil intent possible.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:07 am

Comments

I have a good friend getting their masters in another state. They told me last week they were happy they got the reminder so they can still cast their vote for their home district.

Comment by Left of the Lake Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:11 am
I know the paperwork to apply for a ballot was sent to both of my addresses. I figured this was because I had requested an absentee ballot for the primary this year. Personally I did not find this nefarious.

Comment by illinifan Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:22 am
Where in a world where being shocking is more important than being correct.

Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:22 am
Thank you Center Square.

Comment by First Deal with the Virus Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:25 am
As long as the voter gets their mail in ballot, all of this faux anger doesn’t matter. This is one of the many playbook tactics being used by Republicans to undermine the vote by mail process. It’s getting very old.

Comment by Shytown Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:31 am
I sort of use an hysteria index to figure out who is ahead. Based on Trump I would say Biden. Based on this the fair tax. But they live in heightened state anyway.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:33 am
It only “erodes” confidence if people go out if they’d way to say norms accepted and known as safe are then being touted as “unsafe”… even though ZERO has changed.

It’s ironically sad that the real GOP in Illinois not only touted but streamlined VBM programs to win seats are now the Raunerites and Trumpkins that tout what they knew just 3+ years ago was safe.

Pathetic

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:34 am
I’ve written over 12,000 GOTV postcards through Postcards to Voters. It’s not uncommon at all for voters to have a mailing address outside the area in which they’re registered to vote; it’s legal. (Snowbirds, students, people with more than one residence, etc etc.) These voters are not confused. It’s not some great conspiracy to commit voting fraud.

Comment by Voting fraud it's not Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:35 am
=== Thank you Center Square.===

… for reminding me how ridiculous this story is, almost something you’d read in “The Onion”

The foolish thinking that this is eroding and is newsworthy as a warning, thank you, another reason Center Square misses the mark… yet again.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:36 am
As I said on the open thread expect more of this noise to occur around mail in voting. The intent here is to undermine confidence in the process thereby making it illegitimate. Mail in voting is a safe as it’s ever been. What’s dangerous are the attempts to cast doubt on our election process.

Comment by Pundent Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:38 am
Will there be as much hue and cry if the out of state address is an Army Post Office / Fleet Post Office? /s

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 11:56 am
The Center Square is actually neither centered, nor squaring with the truth.

Comment by thisjustin Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 12:10 pm
There is a fight coming…heads in sand won’t help.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 12:49 pm
=This is one of the many playbook tactics being used by Republicans to undermine…=

Democracy.

Republicans know that long-term, an old, white, and bigoted voter block will fade into irrelevancy so that their best hope is to turn to authoritarianism and be the authoritarians

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 12:56 pm
Voter fraud for Center Square is when Democrats vote and win. Ergo, their outrage and shock is constant.

Comment by Froganon Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 1:31 pm
The ballot application sent by our local county clerk that came to my home clearly said I could have the actual ballot sent to a different address if I going to be somewhere else. How is that a problem?

Comment by zatoichi Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 1:38 pm
We’ve invented the portmanteau “Staycation” to indicate vacationing at home. Does Center Ice mean to create the word “Staysentee voter?” “Homesentee?” “Adsentee?” The only remarkable thing about it is that it doesn’t mention Madigan.

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 1:50 pm
“I’m shocked…shocked…yadda yadda yadda.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 1:58 pm
Shocking.
Absentee ballots are being sent to Illinois registered voters who will be —ABSENT— from Illinois on election day.
Quick, call Attorney General Barr.

Comment by northsider (the original) Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 3:08 pm