Nov 04 2008
Comments, etc
I’m hearing generally positive things from the precincts. Certainly some confusion and lots of busyness which certainly creates challenges for judges. Some polling places can handle it well, others not as well.
Please give me any comments, suggestions, and yes complaints.
I work at the University and am helping a student who was turned away from voting because she did not have an item with her current address on it. She is registered, listed, and had photo ID. No where, on the list of “Instructions for first time voters”, does it say that proof of address is required. Acceptable forms of ID include a current and valid photo ID, which this student had. I am wondering what the problem is and hoping this is not universal since many students are likely in the same position.
Things at Champaign 11/12 went reasonably smoothly when they opened up, but there were issues with some voters (2-3 while I was there) being given the ballot for the wrong precinct and having trouble getting a straight answer as to how to proceed.
Probably would have been less of an issue had it not been crushingly busy at that time (~6:30am).
– jeff
I am a first time voter in Champaign County and I don’t have my current address on my DL. Will I be turned away as well?
I think this is applicable even in the case of in-person voting:
“An absentee/early applicant’s identity must be verified by presentation of an IL driver’s license, IL ID card, or another government issued ID containing the applicant’s photograph. If the person is a first time voter required to show ID, the acceptable forms of ID include: a current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows name and address. A voter registration card is not acceptable identification.”
Voted at Holy Cross(11/12 precinct) at 11:45 and was out by noon. It was very well organized and it was nice to see helpful people, especially when a first-time voter in front of me asked questions. Overall, a very smooth and pleasant experience.
I’m confused. My understanding is that regarding first-time voters, *only* those who (1) registered by mail *and* (2) did not provide a form of acceptable ID (or govt #) when registering.
Otherwise, no registered voter should be required to show proof of address *or* ID in Illinois.
Quoting from ‘ILLINOIS VOTER INFORMATION’ at http://www.elections.state.il.us:
‘Instructions for First Time Voters Who Registered by Mail
‘If you register by mail, you must vote in person the first time, either at the polling place, in-person absentee or early voting, unless you submit with your mail-in registration form your driver license number or state ID number, the last four digits of your social security number, or one of the forms of ID listed below. Voters voting under the provisions of UOCAVA and the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act do not have to vote in person for the first time after having registered by mail. (HAVA 303[b][2][c]).
‘A current and valid photo identification
Utility bill Bank statement
Government check
Paycheck
Government document
‘The above listed forms of ID must show your name and address and must be presented to the election officials before being permitted to vote. If you do not present a required form of identification either at the time of submitting your mail-in registration or at the time of voting, you may vote a Provisional Ballot.’
I guess I am confused myself. If someone is a first time voter or has voted in the past why would then not have to prove that they still reside in the same residence. If some one, let’s say tried to vote twice in two different precincts are there systems in place to prevent that from happening? Maybe that is why there needs to be a formal verification by way of recent utility bill, paycheck or some other form to prove you live where you say you live. Is it fair to all of the people that live in their homes that there should be a special treatment for someone because they are a student? How can anyone prove they have not voted twice? Don’t we have a fair and free election system? All that happens when asked to prove residence is that it does not open up an opportunity for voter fraud. No one wants an unfair disadvantage for an important issue or elected official to go through the court system and the cost to the tax payer because of fraud, right? So a little inconvience to the first time voter seems fair in order to protect all voters rights.
The checks to prevent someone from voting twice are minimal if the person really wants to get away with it. I’ll be writing more about the statewide voter registration database in future weeks to let you know how that system is working and what can be done to improve it.