HB 1968 is now law. One of its major provisions is early voting.

In Illinois, prior to this new law , you could cast an absentee ballot prior to election day for reasons such as if you would be out of the county on election day or if you were physically unable to make it to the poll on election day. Early voting is similar to absentee voting, except that you don’t need an “excuse” to vote early.

Proponents of early voting believe that it increases voter turnout and makes it easier for commuters to vote. Opponents believe that the financial costs of early voting outweigh any benefit and that spreading out voting diminishes the community aspect of voting.

I have worked on legislation in the past to try to open up absentee voting for more people. I supported absentee voting for the elderly who may have difficulties standing in line for a half hour. I also supported extending absentee voting to caretakers and pregnant women. Early voting addresses those issues and for that reason I’m looking forward to this.

At the same time, I admit that I miss the community atmosphere that develops around election day. I’m sure many of our election judges will be disappointed when some of the usual faces don’t show up on election day. As an election official, I am statutorily allowed to absentee vote, but I never have because I enjoy going to the polling place on election day.

For our county there will be administrative concerns. For example, as it stands now, our office will have to be open for early voting on holidays and Sundays prior to each election. In 2007, this means we will have to open on Easter Sunday morning! I’ve been told that in some states as many as 20% of voters vote early. If that happens here, the number of early voters would be over three times the number of absentees we have currently. This will require significant staffing to accommodate. Early voting cuts off 5 days prior to the election so that means the weekend prior to the election will be non-stop action updating and printing voter lists and getting them to judges. In the past, we’ve completed that task prior to that weekend so that we can deal with any fires that come up (real or metaphorical).

Now that HB 1968 is law, there is already talk of “clean-up” language to be introduced next year. I’d like to know what you think.

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