By Ted Kleine
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A staffer in Dillard’s office says the senator is worried about protecting the privacy of voters. If people choose not to vote in a particular race, that’s their business–machines shouldn’t be announcing it to the world. Looming precinct captains could intimidate voters into returning to the booth and completing their ballot, Dillard’s staffer says. “He truly believes this is a voter’s rights issue.”
This isn’t the first time Republicans have tried to stop Cook County from using ballot-checking technology. Last year, senate president James “Pate” Philip bottled up a bill allowing the county clerk’s office to use the new equipment. Finally, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democratic Party of Illinois sued and won a court order putting the technology into action for the February 27 primary and the April 3 general election.
That wouldn’t be surprising. State senator Barack Obama tried to slip through a bill that simply gives counties the option of kicking back undervotes. It died in the elections subcommittee.
Reform is still a dirty word in Springfield. Apparently that goes for voting reform too.
