Chicago Republicans

Our preliminary review of President Obama's nomination petitons indicated a higher than expected number of signatures were not by registered Illinois voters, as is required.  We used a database analysis by comparing the signature names to a list of all registered voters in Illinois through a database analysis service.

   Right off the bat, we lost two days by the fact that our order for ballot petitions was “mishandled” by the ISBE.   Near the close of business on Friday, January 6, 2012, we received 60 disks of ballot petitions of various candidates as requested, but upon return to the office we found that the disk for Barack Obama’s petitions was  .  .  .  BLANK!!!  It  cost us the weekend and a good part of Monday before new disks could be obtained and transmitted to the database service.

The difference was crucial to our efforts to review the Obama petitions with a sound and double-checked database analysis.  This type of analysis requires extensive "cleansing of the data to reduce or elimiate errors by use of "Ave." instead of avenue.  As it was, we filed the Objection to the Obama petitions with seven minutes to spare at 4:53 pm on January 13, 2012.   We knew that the database results were not audited, and  likely too high in finding voters not registered,  but it was impossible to know how high in the short time frame.  Ah, well, spilt milk and all. 


While we identified several fatal defects in a small number of specific sheets out of the 701 Petition signatures sheets filed, and our spot checks identified a large number of questionable signatures, we knew going in that only the registered voter objections would attack enough signatures to potentially keep President Obama off the Primary ballot. 

During the records review of the petition signatures, held at Illinois State Board of Election offices in  downtown Chicago, ISBE clerks called “Checkers”, rule on each challenged voter signature on a line by line basis though comparison with ISBE records on computer screens.  In this case, over 3,000 individual reviews had to occur.  On respective sides of the Checker are single representatives of each side, who note each ruling, and assert their side's  position to a limited degree as needed.   


Our people  had repeated complaints about the Checkers slanting to the candidate on signatures, addresses, and virtually all else.   We accept that to a degree as part of the game, since the law strongly favors ballot access, but it seemed a bit overboard this time compared to other experiences.  Additionally,  we knew that the crux of the case was the existence of enough signatures by persons not registered.

Alas, after six hours of checking at eight computer terminals (a substantial ongoing effort by some 30 Board employees and volunteers), we determined in the final stages of the records check that Mr. Obama was going to obtain approval of  sufficient signatures to cross the 3000 mark required for ballot placement, with no reasonable prospect of our being able to reverse enough rulings to get him back under 3000.  Close monitoring and extensive use of pocket calculators caused us to see the trend and unfortunate mathematical reality that the President was certain to prevail on the challenge.  We consequently halted the exam and filed to withdraw the challenge to avoid a waste of additional effort and time by the assembled workers. 
 

But we thank profusely the people who agreed to come down to the Thompson Center to assist us as respresentatives at the terminals.  I am very proud of them.

  Dennis Coleman
Kurt Fujio  (GOP Committeeman Candidate in the 49th Ward)
Tonia Lindsey
Tony Lindsey
Sheila Morgan
Carl Segvich (GOP Committeeman for the 11th Ward)
Diane Shapiro (GOP Committeeman for the 46th Ward)
Leo Steinys

Mirlinda Vula Feirstein (on call) (GOP Committeeman Candidate in the 2nd Ward)

Catherina Wojtowicz (on call) (GOP Committeeman Candidate in the 19th Ward)

Eloise Gerson (on call)  (Chicago Republican Party Chairman and Candidate for reelection as GOP Committeeman Candidate in the 42nd Ward)

As a person who has been at the front line for ten years in acting for reform through lawsuits, board proceedings and much more, and not just talking about it,  I can say that for true reformers disappointment is a regular companion.   We have High Hopes, however, and the ram will keep butting that dam!