Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Question of the day

Posted in:

Illinois

* I’ve been telling subscribers about this proposal for most of the week, and the Tribune picked up on it yesterday…

Democrats advanced legislation to reinstate straight-ticket voting that allows citizens to punch one box on a ballot to support a party’s entire slate. The Elections and Campaign Reform Committee sent the bill to the full House on a party-line 5-4 vote.

Fearing Democrats sought to take advantage of momentum from U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential bid, Rep. Tim Schmitz (R- Batavia) called the timing “suspect.” Sponsoring Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) said he has long wanted to resurrect straight-ticket voting, which Republicans abolished in 1997 after losing control of the House.

“This bill simply restores what had been the law of the land in Illinois for well over a century and that is giving voters a choice to cast a straight-ticket vote,” Fritchey said.

* Question: Should straight-party voting be reinstated in Illinois? Why or why not?

* Bonus question: How badly might this proposal hurt the GOP in Illinois this year?

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:30 am

Comments

Bonus question: How badly might this proposal hurt the GOP in Illinois this year?

If Obama is at the top of the ticket (it will be bad even if Hillary is there, but so much worse if its Obama) we could possibly loose a couple in the State senate soley because of the straight ticket, and the HOuse could go super majority. However, in 2010, it could help us. Democrats will own Govt, state and national in 2010, therefore they own the problems, and take the blame, which could spur another republican revolution like we felt in the 90s with Gingrich. I know, a lot of ifs and buts, but they are the ifs and buts we republicans cling to.

Comment by Moderate Repub Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:37 am
I’ll go along with straight ticket voting as long as a “None of the Above” provision is also added. If “NOTA” wins a majority in a race, the 2 parties have to re-run new candidates for that office until one can beat the other and “NOTA”. As long as we are catering to the laziness of voters and their parties, we might as well make them work once in a while.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:40 am
This will help to collect data for redistricting in 2011…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:40 am
Do not reinstate straight-ticket voting. As a voter I feel I and all other voters should carefully choose each candidate we vote for. I have never voted a straight ticket in my life and I never will. I can see straight-ticket voting leading to another or the same bumbling idiot reaching the Governors office for 4 years.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:41 am
Come to think of it, I also favor a “None of the Above” straight ticket option:-)

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:42 am
It could hurt in some of the collars. Overall not that much and it could come back to bite the Dems in 2010 if Rod is in big trouble,

Comment by OneMan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:43 am
I think this is just a way to capitalize on the laziness of the voters. In that case I wonder how many voters would vote for none of the above as opposed to either a Democratic slate or a Republican slate.

Comment by Levois Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:44 am
===it could come back to bite the Dems in 2010 if Rod is in big trouble===

As one top House Dem source told me this week, “We can repeal it before 2010.”

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:45 am
This may not be possible since the voting machines in Illinois are not certified to register “straight-party” voting at this time. Remember, the last time IL had straight party votes, the entire state was on punch cards. Now everything is scan-tron or touch screens. This would require federal and state recertification which would probably not be possible prior to the November elections.

Comment by Unreliable Sources Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:48 am
Straight-ticket voting is the tool of the lazy.
That being said, IMO a lazy voter is better than a derelict voter. No one would be forced to cast a straight-ticket vote, unlike a primary election here you are forced to eat off of only one side of the menu.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:53 am
1) Keep in mind that Rod didn’t win with straight voting.

2) We had straight and scratch voting for over a century, to the benefit of both parties.

3) You still can cross over in any race that you choose.

4) Ironically, it was the Republican sweep in 1994, fueled by straight ticket voting, that brought them into power to allow them to get rid of straight ticket voting on their way out the door in 1997. They eliminated it because of politics, not policy.

Comment by Just some thoughts Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:53 am
Unreliable,

The Board of Elections testified that they would have plenty of time to do it and that it is fully compatible with the systems in use in Illinois.

And fyi, we are the only state in the Midwest that does not have straight ticket voting as an option.

Comment by Just some (more) thoughts Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:56 am
Straight ticket will help this year but for those of us in the collar counties that have been making incremental gains at the local level, it could be disastrous in 2010. Overall its not a good idea here.

Comment by Will Co Observer Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:58 am
It should not come back. Voters should choose a candidate in each race.
If it does come back, the Senate would likely lose Murphy and Dahl. Cronin and Duffy would be in trouble. In the House, Mulligan, Coulson, and Rebolletti would be gone. Krause’s seat would be gone. Kosel and a few others would be in big trouble. Madigan would lose Granberg’s seat.

Comment by Bi-Partisan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:09 am
Thanks for the info, Just Some THoughts. Was under the impression SBE would not allow any more voting machine changes this year. SBE is notoriously slow and unbending.

Comment by Unreliable Sources Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:16 am
Does it really make sense to help a lazy, uniformed voter that just wants to get out of the voting booth in 15 seconds instead of 1 minute? Our Founding Fathers would be rolling over in their graves to hear this.

Comment by Trafficmatt Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:19 am
I’ll accept straight ticket if they make it an open primary.

Comment by What planet is he from again? Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:20 am
Its bad enough most people don’t take the time to vote. Yet we can’t expect the people that show up to spend more than 7 seconds in the booth selecting their candidates? Is it really that hard to vote? God forbid they actually have to know the name of the person they pick…

Comment by Robbie Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:21 am
I don’t think there was ever a good reason to get rid of straight ticket voting, so I don’t care if it comes back. Many other states still have it and it’s not like it’s led to lesser results than IL has seen as far as turnout or election results.

I think it could hurt some of the Collar Dems and I don’t know that it will help the Cook Dems given the somnolent GOP here.

Comment by cermak_rd Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:31 am
I’m with the Planet guy. Give us an open primary and give them the straight ticket.

Anyway, would the straight ticket help or hinder dead people with voting? I don’t want to exclude this traditional Illinois voting block.

Comment by Enemy of the State Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:33 am
Bi-Parisan:

You say duffy would be gone. How would that be if the two house reps survive? They are both incumbent repubs.

Comment by Just Asking Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:39 am
Rich is right, it can be repealed before the 2010 GENERAL election, but maybe they will wait until after the primary . . .

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:42 am
First and foremost, I think it’s disingenuous for Rep. Fritchey to imply that we need this bill to “give voters a choice to cast a straight-ticket vote,” as if people are somehow currently obligated to split their ticket. If someone wants to cast their vote for every office on a partisan basis, they already can: each candidate is clearly identified by party affiliation right there on the ballot.

One-punch straight ticket voting, which is more accurately what this bill “restores,” only makes it easier for voters to use partisanship as a determining factor in their decisions. Every day on both this blog, and in our national political discourse, “partisanship” is used as a bad word and verbal weapon. So I don’t know how anyone (especially someone who supports Obama, the allegedly ‘post-partisan’ candidate of unity) can support this idea. And I’ll be very disappointed if anyone who has excoriated other commenters here about “partisan blinders,” or the like, comes out to defend this proposal, which serves only to promote partisanship.

Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:44 am
I don’t really care either way except if this does come to pass I hope not to find out that any of the people I hang out with are nincompoops who can’t come up with any other criterion besides party membership.

Comment by yinn Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:44 am
I agree with Jake, better lazy than derelict, but I doubt straight ticket will bring more people to the polls.

I also think its quite presumptive to think that G-Rod will top the Dem ticket in the 2010 general.

Comment by J. Bacon Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:46 am
Perfect process for pol’s and dumbasses…sometimes one and the same.

Comment by Straight ticket Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:49 am
It’s a terrible idea. It’s too “easy” and requires no real thought. For instance, even though I am a Republican, I voted for Dan Hynes in 2006. The same probably goes for some of my Dem friends who voted for most members of their party but shied away from Blago.

The GOP would be hurt by this in the fall but I think might come out ahead in 2010. If the Dems keep bungling everything for the next couple of years and if the GOP finds a backbone (and a new chairman), the tables could easily be turned.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:50 am
I have no arguments against the option. I trust the House Dems to know their politics, so I suspect they believe it will help them to a degree that makes it worthwhile. I can imagine Obama cutting a “Punch 10″ spot for the Illinois Dems.

If I recall, didn’t Pate spearhead the drive to get rid of straight-party voting after Dick Devine upset Jack O’Malley for Cook County State’s Attorney?

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:55 am
I personally think we should go back to paper ballots and require voters to write out the name of the candidate of their choice. And if the name is misspelled by the voter then the vote has to be kicked out.
This would help the palm carding industry as well as encourage literacy.

Comment by clj Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:56 am
Horrible mismanagement by Andy McKenna and others has already guaranteed another November wipe-out for Republicans. The Illinois GOP is already dead. Straight ticket voting would just be like drawing-and-quartering the executed victim after he’s already been shot, hanged, and then given lethal injection. Maybe Cross and Watson can go on the floor and cry for the slaughter rule to be invoked. The Dems are just piling on at this point.

Comment by GOP'er Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:56 am
Straight ticket in Cook County makes it easier for the ward heelers to do more absentee ballots and to manipulate the day voting. The Diebolds and the others are prone to errors anyway.

The question is — do we need it.

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 11:57 am
I have a better idea. Lets eliminate the party affiliation from the ballot and see who wins then.

Of course it is a bad idea to have straight party voting.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:00 pm
Leave it to the Democrats to figure out how to spend even more taxpayer money on something that only benefits politicians during a recession. Yet another wasteful, anti-democratic notch on the Illinois Democratic Party.

Illinois just spent tons of money because of the HAVA legislation on new machines. In Peoria, one of the election commissioners gave the lucrative voting machine contract to a company he partly owned with a relative.

What, Fritchey wants to give his corrupt Democrat friends another chance to loot the taxpayers by spending money replacing or modifying voting machines that were just bought and paid for?

There hasn’t been an independent candidate on the ballot for the General Assembly in Illinois for more than 25 years because our ballot access laws in Illinois are worse than Russia. Our elections have already been illegally staged in favor of one or the other power parties for quarter of a century. More than 60% of St. Rep/Senate seats go unopposed every election, sometimes more than 2/3 of all races have no political competition.

They should add a provision to this bill allowing straight ticket voting that the option to vote that way will only be available if more than 90% of the races on that ballot have more than one choice for each office.

But Rep. Fritchey wouldn’t think to consider such a thing as promoting actual democratic elections instead of the anti-democratic, unconstitutional mess of election laws his party uses for the sole purpose of gaining more power and money. The St. Senate passed a bill last year to make the ballot access requirements the same for all candidates regardless of who promised them a lucrative government job. Where was that bill in your House Rep. Fritchey? Shouldn’t you be spending more time and effort on that instead of reducing the amount of political competition that we barely enjoy in this state?

This should tell Illinoisans all they need to know about the House Democrats in Illinois. They will promote and pass legislation for straight ticket voting before they will even let a House Committee consider a bill that would finally treat all political candidates equally without discriminating and using bigoted election laws.

Straight ticket voting? Just one step closer for the Democrats to the day when they can virtually outlaw all political competition from the ballot.

Comment by TaxMeMore Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:00 pm
Q1: Should straight-party voting be reinstated in Illinois? Why or why not?

A1: I am torn on this. I think it would help my POV politically, but I also think it is bad civics, see also Retention, Judicial.

Q2: How badly might this proposal hurt the GOP in Illinois this year?

A2: I think it could really damage the GOP’s sense of entitlement and inevitability in DuPage County.

For years and years, voters in DuPage County have not had many down ballot Democratic candidates in general elections. Too often they had none.

By leaving so many races uncontested for so many years, the Democratic party in DuPage effectively trained many of those predisposed to vote for Dems to not even bother turning the damn ballot over. As a result, the drop off rate for down ballot races in DuPage County has been staggering, e.g. the Democratic candidates carried DuPage in almost all of the state-wide contests in the last general election, but there were still no Democrats elected to county office or the state legislature.

That crippling down-ballot drop-off is the natural effect of years of “leadership” allowing the local party to lie fallow.

But there is new Democratic leadership in DuPage County and they are fielding candidates to actually contest some of those down-ballot races. Now one of the big problems facing Democrats in DuPage is how to turn November’s Obama votes into Democratic votes for County Board and the Illinois House.

An Obama nomination and a straight-ticket option would go a long way towards addressing that particular problem and could easily change the results of some of the closer races in DuPage County.

Bottom line: Straight-party voting would be good politics (for me) but bad civics.

– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:05 pm
For what it’s worth, there are far more House bills (including the pay to play ban) that are bottled up in the Senate than vice versa.

Comment by FYI Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:20 pm
Just Asking,
I said Duffy would be in trouble. He is a new candidate is the primary reason. His Reps should be nervous too. Terry Link will go for a near wipe out (not total)of the GOP in Lake if he gets straight ticket voting with his friend Obama leading the ticket. Despite Link’s recent troubles, he is very effective in Lake. Duffy et al should be very nervous if straight ticket returns. I hope this straight ticket thing does not come back.

Comment by Bi-Partisan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:31 pm
Straight ticket voting in a federal republic such as ours is entirely what we try to avoid in this country. Why don’t we just rename our legisltive bodies parliament and adopt the prime minister model. Individual identity in legisltures is what makes our system unique. And, the leaders already have WAY too much power as it is. With straight ticket voting, that only exacerbates the problem. One thing is for sure: this is one electoral reform which will fly thorugh the GA and Govs desk, while pay-to-play gets buried. It also shows how scared the GA Dems are in this election year.

– As one top House Dem source told me this week, “We can repeal it before 2010.” –

Rich, why don’t you write a column on this and include that quote. That is shameful and it hihglights everything that is wrong with politics in this state. So, it’s meant to save their behinds in this election, and then they can get rid of it when it won’t favor them. Outrageous!!! We need some balance in this state. The Blago’s, Madigan’s, and Jone’s are running this state into the ground and they want to make sure they can continue to do so. I’m moving to Florida!!!!!!

Comment by Bud Man Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:43 pm
=== As one top House Dem source told me this week, “We can repeal it before 2010.” ===

Rich: Did a legislator honestly say that? I might even stomach the idea of moving the primary election once to help an Illinois presidential candidate, but changing the voting rules from year to year is a much bigger credibility issue.

Comment by Madison County Watcher Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:43 pm
Didn’t say it was a legislator, but I wouldn’t lie about that.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:43 pm
===That is shameful and it hihglights everything that is wrong with politics in this state.===

Good point, but the Legislature is free to change laws at will.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:45 pm
Yes, because it would make life a whole lot easier, not that we need it to kick some Republican butt.
Also it might make people more likely to ignore the con con referendum.
Now that I think about it, all legislation that passed from 1995-1997 should be repealed.

Comment by Bill Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 12:49 pm
===all legislation that passed from 1995-1997 should be repealed.===

Almost all of the big stuff has already been struck down by the courts. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 1:19 pm
I think this measure is aimed at the Illinois Green Party, just like the proposal to virtually eliminate candidate slating for established parties. Democrats are hoping that someone who votes for a Democrat higher up the ticket will be less likely to vote for a Green lower. I’ve said it a million times before–the Democratic party is anything but democratic, and that’s one reason I won’t support their candidates.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 1:28 pm
If they pass the straight party vote there should be a companion bill passed that outlaws passing out the obligatory 1/2 pint of whiskey until after they vote. If not, they might forget what number they are told to “punch”.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 1:34 pm
Why not be good for Repubs now. Who says the Dems are on such good paper that a straight ticket vote will go their way. Straight ticket voting is only good for lazy voters and political hacks.

Comment by Hearing Voices Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:02 pm
Before anybody overreacts, keep in mind that the bill is much more likely a shot across the bow to keep Cross from working with Blago and probably won’t even get called. The Speaker has said in the past that he didn’t enjoy it one bit when he had a supermajority, which he knows he could wind up with if this became law.

Comment by Calm down everybody Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:15 pm
In the “old days” voters stood in line and cast votes strictly along party lines. They didn’t even have secret balloting! You stood in front of the judges and dropped your vote into the box signifying your choice as well as your party. Everyone in the room knew. That is how it was so easy to bully voters and keep African Americans from voting. That is how it was so easy to keep one party rule strangling governments.

The option of single party voting is like the human appendix - no longer fuctional, but just hanging around because it used to be needed.

We don’t need it anymore. Today voters can usually read, usually know how to vote, can follow simple instructions, (except in Florida), and cherish their real voting options, by choosing candidates in each race or by not voting in specific races.

For Fritchey to somehow claim that he is restoring a “choice” by reimplementing straight party voting is a misapplication of the word “choice”. Single party voting give voters NO CHOICE on any candidate in any race. To claim that this is coincidence in a year that a prominent Illinois junior Senator is running for office is a lie.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Ugh, no. I remember back before the first election I was eligible to participate in (1992) I was watching the evening news, and the reporter was doing a man-on-the-street piece about who people would be voting for.

He asked one woman this question, and she said she was going to punch straight Democrat. When the reporter asked why, she said because her precinct committeeman told her to.

So, again I say, ugh, no. And as someone else said earlier, you can still vote straight, you just need to go through each race individually.

Comment by Anon from BB Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Bi-partisan:

Most repubs should be worried for sure. That senate race has two newcomers, although the dem has some mayoral experience. This mayor has some issues in his own town.

Comment by Just Asking Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 2:48 pm
Vanilla Man,

We can agree to disagree on this one, but before you accuse me of lying about my reasons for filing the bill, keep in mind that I filed this same bill 10 years ago when our Presidential candidate was only a freshman state senator.

I am more than willing to acknowledge that there are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue, wish you would as well.

Additionally, 1/3 of the states already have scratch voting, and I would submit that a number of those states have consistently elected better candidates to office than has Illinois. I believe that the issue merits debate and consideration. No more, no less.

And those of you that know me know that I am far from a staunch partisan, by word or vote.

Comment by Rep. John Fritchey Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:14 pm
A,
What, you gotta problem with whiskey now?

Comment by Bill Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:24 pm
Governors elected with straight party voting include: Adlai Stevenson, Richard Ogilvie, Jim Thompson, Jim Edgar.

Governors elected since straight party was eliminated: George Ryan, Rod Blagojevich.

Just sayin’.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:28 pm
I use to vote for each office individually, then go back and punch the straight ticket vote just in case I missed someone, especially a judge. The individual votes took precedent over the straight votes so if I was ticked off at some dem I could switch over for that race. The only problem was that it obviously takes longer and the precinct captain was always wondering why it took me so long to vote.

Comment by Been There Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:30 pm
Rich –

Whachersayin is that the first five were lelected straight party votin’ and the last two with crooked party votin ]

But what about Walkin’ Dan’l Walker?

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:35 pm
===But what about Walkin’ Dan’l Walker?===

LOL. I have to admit that I chose to ignore some of the bad ones in my list. LIke I said, I was just sayin’, not sayin’.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:37 pm
Bill, nutt’n gainst whiskey, just think you should get your whiskey’s worth in the process. If you are not careful, those drunks will vote Republican! Especially if its single malt.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:53 pm
We never give them a whole 1/2 pint and nothing before they vote. A shot or two in exchange for their voting reciept usually does the trick.

Comment by Bill Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 4:56 pm
“- Just some thoughts - Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 10:53 am:

3) You still can cross over in any race that you choose.”

I thought if you voted straight party you could NOT cross over and vote for another person on the other side, that would create an overvote and the vote for that office would be invalidated.

EX: I fill in the oval (in my neck of the woods) for all the offices on the republican side. Then further down the ballot, for city councilman, I see a dem I’d rather vote for. If I fill in the oval for the dem, it would cause an over vote and my vote for that office would NOT be counted as the machine couldn’t tell which person the voter wanted.

Just a thought. As for me, it doesn’t matter. If I want to cross over and vote for someone else, I will take the time and fill in each oval for every office on the ballot. It gives voters a choice to not stay in the voting booth or they can take the time and read each candidate for each office which sadly to say not all people do.

Comment by CIL Stater Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 5:39 pm
===I thought if you voted straight party you could NOT cross over and vote for another person on the other side, that would create an overvote and the vote for that office would be invalidated.===

That’s what the parties wanted you to think.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 5:52 pm
Wordslinger, you are totally incorrect.
The GOP pushed and won the repeal of straight ticket voting in ‘95. Took effect in ‘97. It had nothing to do with O’Malley, who was more concerned with circulating gubernatorial petitions while Gov. Edgar was on vacation in Colorado.

Jack O’Malley lost the old fashioned way…the Democrats wanted that office. Badly. Still do.

They NEED it.

And if there had been straight-ticket voting in ‘98, Peter Fitzgerald would have lost, Judy Baar Topinka would have lost and George Ryan would have been up for two weeks counting votes.

Comment by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap Friday, Apr 11, 08 @ 9:48 pm
Funny this is brought up now when Speaker Madigan is so desperate for a veto proof majority. Funny too that Obama (who the Speaker has never wanted to win) might end up helping him get what he desires.

Comment by TR Sunday, Apr 13, 08 @ 6:33 am
Seventeen states have the straight-party option, including some solid red states such as Texas, Utah, Indiana, Oklahoma, and the Carolinas. I guess it’s a splendid policy where Republicans have the advantage, but unfair in blue states.

In Cook County, where there are scores of offices on the ballot, not counting judicial retention, the straight-party option would reduce voter fall-off down the ballot, reduce the time it takes to voe, and shorten lines at polling places.

Fritchey has a solid record as a reformer. He leads the Con-Con faction, for example, and he voted against the Fortner bill last week to make it nearly impossible for parties to appoint candidates to fill ballot vacancies.

Comment by FightforJustice Sunday, Apr 13, 08 @ 12:17 pm
Isn’t it time for Independents, Greens, Libertarians, and other third parties to unite in a referendum to establish equal ballot access?

Shouldn’t Constitutional “equal protection of laws” already require equal access?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 14, 08 @ 7:48 am