Chicago Republicans

Committeemen,

Thank you to all committeemen who attended for Pizza and Politics at Giordano’s last night.    It was fun!  We had a great turn out!

A presentation was given detailing procedures for recruiting judges of elections, changes in procedures regarding judges of elections, and legislative changes in election laws.

The following are some of the points covered:

• Election Judges. The last day for Committeeman appointment of Election judges is 9/20/10.  After that the Board must accept over the counter applications.
• Precinct Polling Assistants will be in use again this year.  Applications will be available starting on August 25, 2010.
• Voter Registration.  The last day for voter registration is October 5, 2010. Any mailed registration applications postmarked on October 5 will be considered timely.  If a voter misses October  5, there is a short two week grace period to register, but it can only be done in person at the Board of Elections office at 69 West Washington or the three university polling places.  The registrant must immediately vote at the site.
• Early Voting.  Early voting will be from October  12 through October 28, 2010, 9am to 5 pm.    There will be 54 sites across the City, including UIC, Chicago State, and Northeastern University.   The Ward polling places will not be open on Sunday, but the three college polls will be open.
• To be an Election Judge for Early Voting you must agree to serve all the days your polling station is open, from 9am to 5pm, in effect becoming an employee of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners for two and one-half weeks.  Please contact Patty Battista on applications.
• Absentee Ballots.  In a big change, no excuse at all is required for an absentee ballot application.  Military and overseas voters can apply online to receive an absentee ballot.  It will be sent to them electronically, but they must mail the ballot back.  The legislature refused to extend the electronic bit to submission of the actual ballot.
• Quinn Amendatory Veto.  Governor Quinn engaged in an amendatory veto to eliminate the procedure of a primary voter declaring a ballot preference to the judges.  Under the Quinn proposal, the voter will get a ballot of all the parties, and fills out one, returning the rest.  There is some question on whether the amendatory veto was proper, and Commissioner Cowen predicts that it will not be passed by the Legislature.
• Special  Senator Election.  It will happen on November 2, 2010 because of the Constitution, and the recent Court of Appeals ruling.  The November ballot will have TWO senate races on it, one for the 60 days or so of the remaining Obama/Burris term, and one for the new six year term.  The details have yet to be approved, but it looks like the State Central Committees are going to be given the power to slate candidates for the rump term.  It is expected that each party will slate their current nominee to keep things simple.  So Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias will appear twice. 
• Constitutional Amendment on Recall.  This referendum to amend the State Constitution to add recall will be on the November 2 ballot.  But the recall provision approved by the Legislature only applies to the post of Governor.  The Illinois proposal tracks the procedure in California.
• Primary Date Changed Back.  Beginning in 2012, the Illinois Primary will revert to its March date.   Some wanted a later date to shorten the election season, but were defeated in the Legislature.  Also, ballot petition dates will move back in time at least 14 days, to give the challenge process more time.  Keep an eye out.
• Changes in Ballot Access Challenge Cases.   In a major change, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners have been given additional jurisdiction, to hear all challenge cases involving State Rep. or State Senate candidates in all of Cook County, regardless of whether the district includes any part of the City of Chicago.   A challenge case in a completely suburban district will still be heard by the Chicago Board.  Also, appeal in a challenge case must be made to the Circuit Court in FIVE DAYS, down from the current TEN DAYS.
• Governor / Lt.  Governor.  Beginning with the next election for Governor, candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor in a party primary must run as a team.  No individual candidates will be allowed. 

Hard copies from the Chicago Board of Elections are available in the office.  Contact Executive Director Peter V. Bella if you need them.

Executive Director Peter Bella raised a few business points to close the meeting.

The Chicago GOP has Voter Vault access with February Primary information loaded.   Committeemen who want printouts of “R” voters in their wards should contact Pete Bella.   The Voter Vault printout will have most, but not all phone numbers of Hard or Soft Rs for Committeemen to call for volunteers and Precinct Captains.

A short discussion was held on recruiting volunteers and precinct captains.    

We would like to meet with Committeemen individually at the Blackhawk office to discuss their Wards, their election effort, and their volunteer and precinct captain efforts.  Each Ward is different, and each Committeeman faces different challenges based upon geography, demographics, and experience.  Some will need a lot of advice and help, some not.   Pete will be looking to schedule sessions in the next two weeks.

The Chicago GOP would like to move the monthly meetings around the City, to various Wards.  Requirements are a big enough room, some off street parking, and a relatively inexpensive menu.  If you have a spot in mind in your Ward, please contact Pete Bella, who will make the arrangements.   We are also thinking of establishing a set monthly date, like the last Tuesday or first Wednesday or such, but may start that after the Election.  One other option is an occasional Saturday morning meeting.

We have been working on two projects involving minority outreach.  One for the Hispanic community and one for the African American Community.  Both of these projects have required some hard work, overcoming obstacles put in our way, and very delicate negotiations.  We are very close to a final determination on them.  If the Hispanic project is approved, Chicago Republican Party Headquarters will be the Chicago Hispanic Republican Outreach Center.  Negotiations are still in progress and we hope to have a final answer very soon.

The project for African American outreach is progressing slowly and is still in the negotiation phase.  Like most political activities there are many different factions to satisfy.  We are working hard to bring this to fruition.

Both of these projects, if executed, will go beyond November and into the 2012 election cycle.  These projects will further enhance the Chicago Republican Party as the Republican presence and home in the City of Chicago.

Social event:   We will be planning a social event at the Blue Star Wine Bar on the 1200 block of Noble in the next 45 days.  Other events are in planning for the Fall.

August meeting details will be forwarded when a location and date are set.  Election 2010 efforts will be the big topic.

REMINDER:
Bill Brady is having a grand opening at his Chicago Campaign Office today.                                   
Location: 1201 N. Clark St. (Enter on Division)                                    Time:        5PM-7PM                                     Complimentary Drinks and appetizers will be available next door at Butch McGuires

Stay Cool All!

Eloise Gerson

Chairman Chicago Republican Party