Voter Registration - Today, Tomorrow, Next Week Even (but don't dally)

A string of recent news stories (or maybe it's just the headlines) have noted that today is the last day to register to vote in the February 2 primary election. While that's true, it's only part of the story, and we hope that no one who wants to vote in the primary and is eligible to do so gives up because they think they've missed the deadline. Illinois offers many ways to register and participate in elections; just as one door shuts, another opens.

Today is the last day to register with a deputy registrar and with the motor voter system. But if you want to vote in the primary, you will still have an alternative. It will require more effort, but for the next three weeks you can take advantage of "grace period" registration. To do this, you'll need to go to your local election authority and register in person. Bring two forms of ID with you, at least one with a photograph (drivers license, passport, state ID with a photo; a written lease or a utility bill or bank statement mailed to your home will also do for the second). Be prepared, though; you also may be required to vote when you register, as some jurisdictions combine grace period registration with early voting. The unregistered have until January 26th to take advantage of grace period registration.

Grace period registration is increasingly common and will allow people who did not get to the registrar by the 28th day before the election to cast ballots in the primary. If you want to vote and are not now registered, don't assume it's too late.

New Year, New Rules, New Server

A couple of thoughts on the coming of the new year.

First, as many of you know, ICPR has been working hard to pass HB 1, a bill to address pay-to-play in state contracting. The bill has 46 sponsors, a super majority of both caucuses, and yet it's been locked down in Senate Rules since last April. December 31 will mark the 250th day that HB 1 has been held hostage, and so we invite all of you to show you outrage at this farcical abuse of legislative power by donning silly hats, blowing noisemakers, and counting down the seconds to January 1, which will be the 251st day. Maybe that will get the bill moved to committee when the legislature reconvenes on January 2.

Second, beginning on January 1, political committees active in the February 5th Primary Election will have two days to report donations of more than $500. In previous years, these A-1 reports didn't kick in until later in the year. Under the old rules, we'd expect A-1s to start arriving in mid-January; a pre-election report would arrive in late January detailing all receipts since the start of the year, and in-between, the D-2 Semi Annual reports would arrive with details of fundraising in the second half of 2007. With the earlier primary date, that all changes; there will be no Pre-election report for the primary, and the A-1s start as soon as 2008 does. So not only do we have Special Session to look forward to on January 2, but, as the first business day of the year, the first batch of A-1 reports should also arrive.

Finally, we know many of you occasionally have had difficulty finding our website or sending us e-mails. We share your frustration. Our aging server limped through the fall, but neither technological know-how nor duct tape could keep it going. In the new year, we'll be moving the site and the e-mail to a new system, which should, fingers crossed, fix all the problems.