Posted on 10/13/2010 4:37:02 PM PDT by MaestroLC
CHICAGO (WLS) - The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the state of Illinois missed the deadline for mailing absentee ballots to members of the military and other overseas American voters as part of a new federal overseas voting law.
Cris Cray, Director of Legislation at the Illinois State Board of Elections, says not all of Illinois' 110 jurisdictions were compliant with the 2009 Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE).
The law requires every state to mail their absentee ballots 45 days prior to Election Day to overseas troops, government employees and other Americans who want to vote from abroad.
Cray says she is currently compiling data from each of Illinois' jurisdictions to determine which were compliant and which were delinquent. Cray said it's possible the ballots may not be counted because the state was tardy in sending them out.
Illinois was required to have all of its absentee ballots mailed by Sept. 18, the national deadline. Election officials have until Nov. 15 to count the absentee ballots, which must be postmarked by midnight Nov. 1 to be eligible.
In an e-mail response, Justice Department spokeswoman Xochil Hinojosa confirmed that Illinois is being investigated for the absentee ballot infraction.
"The Department is working with all states, including Illinois, to investigate and remedy and problems that will prevent our men and women serving overseas from having the opportunity to vote and have their votes counted," Hinojosa said
The Justice Department has brought a lawsuit against the state of New York after settling with New Mexico over a similar case of delinquent absentee ballots for overseas Americans.
Several New York counties including the five boroughs of New York City were found to be in violation of the deadline after the state was permitted by the Defense Department to move its deadline to Oct. 1 because the state's primary day was four days before the deadline.
The Justice Department settled a case with New Mexico Tuesday where six counties failed to mail ballots by the deadline.
Overseas ballots could be a deciding factor in Illinois' mid-term elections where recent polls show a tight U.S. Senate race between Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. Republican Bill Brady has an edge over Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn for governor.
Exactly. Give them their entire 45 days, and then the time to return them, and devil may care how long it takes. Of course they MAY end up finding extra votes themselves, like ballots in car trunks that people had MEANT to cast?
The problem is that this law has no ‘teeth’. What we need is a rule that says that if the ballots are mailed late, even one day late, then they count no matter when they are mailed back.
Isn’t this absolutely illegal??? Where are the lawyers, where are the Republicans???
I agree with that, but I would go one step further. Those state workers who were responsible for mailing out the ballots should be immediately terminated, and all pension benefits be forfeited.
Let me get this straight...all you have to do is miss a deadline and you get to disenfranchise the military ?
And then play “poor me, dumb me, trust me...” it was all a snafu and you’re off the hook?
Vialotors of this law need to be imprisoned.
Add teeth to the law.
i’m totally shocked.
ok, maybe not in the least.
and no one will punish those involved. not charges will be brought. no one will even be ridiculed in the press.
we are no longer a nation of laws.
thanks MaestroLC, and /bingo!
“Of course they MAY end up finding extra votes themselves, like ballots in car trunks that people had MEANT to cast?”
I’m sure you’re right. In fact they’re probably working on that now.
The commander and chief should be flogged for this.
we should have a national strike..
I hope those election officials all go to jail for mailing the absentee ballots late. But let’s not get hystericla here—Illinois residents serving in the military will still receive their absentee ballots prior to November 1, and will be able to mail them back in time. The law dictated that they be mailed a month in advance so as to be extra sure that they would get to the servicemen and -women with plenty of time for them to think about their election options; since they will not have all that much time to ponder their options now I guess they can show what they think of Illinois Democrats and vote straight Republican without thinking it over for too long. : )
Anyone know what the settlement was?
A spell in the comfy chair?
A strongly worded letter?
Ten minutes time out in the corner?
You bet your *** it's not accident but a blatant communist style coup to overthrow our constitution.
I hope the military, upon their return to our shores, make their last mission the elimination of all participating election board members.
I think it's about time for the home guard to lock and load!!!
Imagine the media firestorm if the ballots of illegal aliens weren’t being counted!
“Those state workers who were responsible for mailing out the ballots should be immediately terminated, and all pension benefits be forfeited.”
BRILLIANT! Can I steal this idea?
“Let me get this straight...all you have to do is miss a deadline and you get to disenfranchise the military ?”
MOVE allows a state to request a waiver of the 45-day requirement if the state can show an alternative program that assures voting opportunities for military and overseas voters.
I would be interesting to know if Illinois and New York were granted waivers and what alternative programs they put forth.
Even during the American Civil War, states both North and South found a way for the troops to vote at the front. So why can’t New York and Illinois do it now in the 21st century in the age of modern transportation and electronic communication?
(rhetorical question)
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