Resources for Voter Service Chairs |
Pending Legislation on Election Law
Federal
The Holt Bill HR811 is under consideration in the House. The Senate
bill is S.559. It requires voting systems to have a voter-verified
paper ballot. Voters must have the ability to check and
correct ballots before they are cast. The paper record is the legal
ballot in the event of an audit or recount.
There are also requirements for states to audit the electronic
tallies, by hand-counting a percentage of paper ballots; and for
manufacturers and election officials to document a secure chain-of-custody
for software, hardware, and ballots.
Illinois
Senate Bill 662, which has been sent to the Governor:
- Removes the requirement that voters who register by mail have to vote in person the first time.
- Permits high school juniors to serve as election judges.
Seniors in high schools can serve as election judges now.
- Removes restrictions on primary election voting.
Voters would be entitled to vote in a primary even if they have:
signed a petition for a candidate of a party with which they do
not affiliate; signed the nominating papers of an independent
candidate; or voted at a primary of another political party within
the previous 23 months.
- Requires election authorities in counties over 250,000 to establish
at least one early voting site in each of the
3 largest municipalities.
- Creates a panel to study the merits of Election Day
voter registration.
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The League of Women Voters of Illinois wants young people to know
their vote is important. There are several activities Local Leagues
are undertaking to encourage them to participate in the electoral
process.
- Number 1, help get them registered to vote.
Arrange with your local high school to register those seniors
who will be 18 by February 5th at their school.
In Cook County, David Orr is coordinating the efforts of several
organizations, including the League, to have voter registration
events at every high school in the county. All the schools have
already been contacted by the Clerk's office and will be ready
to help you set up a day. There is also going to be countywide
publicity. The first week of December will be the kickoff. For
those of you in Cook County, your League president received a
notice from the State League office. Please let the State League
office know if you are going to participate and which school.
- Number 2, encourage them to be election judges.
High school seniors can serve as election judges as long as they
meet the following requirements: U.S. citizen; minimum 3.0 GPA;
permission of principal and parent. College Students who are not
entitled to vote in the precinct or county where they go to school,
can still be an election judge in that county.
- Number 3, text, email (or even talk to) all the young people
among your family and friends. Encourage them to register.
- Number 4, share the Internet sources:
Register online: www.vote411.org
How do you vote? Why vote? www.elections.il.gov
Check out your local county's website for information on where
to register, where to vote and who are the candidates. www.elections.il.gov
will give you local county sites.
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Cook County Poll Watching Project
The League of Women Voters of Cook County is again sponsoring a
Poll Reporting Project for the February 5, 2008, Primary
Election in Cook County. They are enlisting the aid of
League members to help make this project an even greater success
than what they achieved for the November, 2006, election. At that
time they had participation by all 16 Leagues that comprise the
Cook County League and tallied 273 surveys. The results were provided
to each League, as well as to the Cook County Clerk, David Orr,
who is responsible for conducting elections within suburban Cook
County. They also met with David Orr to discuss the results, highlighting
6 major areas that League members identified as needing improvement.
For more information contact the Cook County League: info@cookcounty.il.lwvnet.org.
Their website is
http://cookcounty.il.lwvnet.org
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