Group is suing to expand same day voter registration

Posted on August 4, 2016
Liberty Justice Center
The lawsuit is being filed in an effort to make same day voter registration equal. (Courtesy http://libertyjusticecenter.org)

By Terry James

SPRINGFIELD – A lawsuit is being filed against the state of Illinois claiming the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment is being violated by the same-day voter registration law.

Illinois’ Liberty Justice Center senior attorney Jacob Huebert said the lawsuit is necessary because only counties with more than 100,000 residents are required to accept voter registration at each polling site on election day. That includes McLean County.

“In our lawsuit, we are asking the Federal Court to order The Illinois State Board of Elections to direct election authorities in all 102 counties not to provide same day voter registration at polling places,” said Huebert. “That is the only way to fix the fairness of this law.”

However, Huebert said he would like to see same-day voter registration in all of Illinois’ counties to make the law fair.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…