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Vote-By-Mail Debate Heads to Illinois House Committee
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Monday, March 09, 2009
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An Illinois House Committee this week is scheduled to consider a proposal to conduct some elections by mail.
State Representative Mike Boland says voting by mail would be more convenient, boosting turnout. And the Western Illinois Democrat says it would save local governments loads of money.
BOLAND: You don't have to staff, you know, hundreds of precincts. You don't have the voting machines everywhere, folks to haul them around and all this type of thing.
To test the system, Boland wants to try it out in some smaller elections first. Elections officials in Chicago and Cook County last week endorsed a plan to use mail-in voting for all special elections. But Tom Cross, the Republican leader in the House, says he has huge concerns about fraud.
CROSS: Not that anybody would accuse anybody in Cook County of fraud, but I would be very careful with opening up the door for mail-in because it's just ripe for fraud.
The House elections and reform committee is expected to debate the plan Tuesday afternoon.
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John, Chicago // Monday, March 09, 2009 @ 1:06 PM
Just think! It would only cost 42 cents... to buy an election. Great news for the Chicago machine.
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Julie, Glen Ellyn // Monday, March 09, 2009 @ 10:05 PM
Well, that's one way of looking at it, John, but you have to admit more African/Americans would vote! There are ways to ensure the elections aren't rigged. I live in South Korea and I vote absentee ballot. Lot's of people do. So, what's wrong with mail in ballots for some that have to work 3 jobs so they can have food for their kids? And the last time I visited the downtown Chicago area, it looked to me like the 'machine' was working very well; upgrades for the lakefront, State st., walking path along the Chicago river. Whatever's working, keep it working! Thank you Mayor Daley!
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