Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Illinois Gov Pritzker Makes Voting Day State Holiday Expands Vote By Mail
Roughly 5 million Illinois voters will receive applications to vote by mail for the November election as a result of legislation Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Tuesday aimed at encouraging mail-in voting amid the ongoing pandemic.
The measure, approved by the General Assembly in its brief special session last month, applies only to the Nov. 3 general election. The new law also makes Nov. 3 a government and school holiday to allow empty schools to be used as polling places as a safety precaution for students and teachers.
Local election authorities will automatically send vote-by-mail applications by Aug. 1 to those who voted in the 2018 general election, the 2019 municipal election or the March 17 primary. Applications also will go out to anyone who registered to vote or updated their address after the primary.
"In the face of a pandemic, massive economic upheaval, and renewed calls for racial justice, it’s more important than ever that Illinoisans can hold accountable a truly representative and transparent government — and that means ensuring all eligible residents can wield their right to vote in a way that doesn’t risk their personal health,” Pritzker said in a statement.
The measure, approved by the General Assembly in its brief special session last month, applies only to the Nov. 3 general election. The new law also makes Nov. 3 a government and school holiday to allow empty schools to be used as polling places as a safety precaution for students and teachers.
Local election authorities will automatically send vote-by-mail applications by Aug. 1 to those who voted in the 2018 general election, the 2019 municipal election or the March 17 primary. Applications also will go out to anyone who registered to vote or updated their address after the primary.
"In the face of a pandemic, massive economic upheaval, and renewed calls for racial justice, it’s more important than ever that Illinoisans can hold accountable a truly representative and transparent government — and that means ensuring all eligible residents can wield their right to vote in a way that doesn’t risk their personal health,” Pritzker said in a statement.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-vote-by-mail-20200616-bi5qwfdq7bgjhdb4rzu7ygebme-story.html
13 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
1. Election day is a national holiday.
2. Voting is open for 24 hours.
3. All states would begin and in at the same "time" with differences for time zones. (example - 8AM eastern, 5AM pacific. This would negate any "early" reporting from eastern states and perhaps influencing western votes).
4. All voting could be done by mail if so desired.
5. All bars should also be open for the same 24 hours - with some of the choices on the ballot you REALLY do need a drink! 
