<html><head><style type='text/css'>p { margin: 0; }</style></head><body><div style='font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000'>Here is the email I sent to <span word="Hulten's" id="DWT155" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Hulten's</span> office. I cannot write a News Gazette piece as I am working on a letter re GEO negotiations.<div><br></div><div>Pat </div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">Dear
Gordy <span word="Hulten" id="DWT156" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Hulten</span>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">I
am writing to strongly protest a policy you have implemented with regard to the
upcoming 2012 elections. As I understand
it, alone among Illinois’ 102 counties, <span word="Champaign" id="DWT157" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Champaign</span> County is the only county
where same-day voting is denied during Grace Period Registration and
Voting (October 10 through November 3). Citizens may register, but must
wait for an absentee ballot to be mailed to their address before voting. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">The
extra step of sending an absentee ballot incurs extra costs to taxpayers, adds
to staff workload, and, most importantly, increases the probability that the
voter's ballot will not be counted. As your opponent in the upcoming election,
Charlie <span word="Smyth" id="DWT158" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Smyth</span>, has noted, many residents utilizing Grace Period voting will not
have their votes counted unless you immediately change your policy and permit Grace
Period voters to vote as soon as they are registered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">Voting
is an essential feature of our democratic system. To deny any citizen who wishes to vote the
capacity to do so is, quite frankly, a form of voter suppression. Requiring Grace Period voters to utilize an
absentee ballot could potentially face legal challenges and given the trend in recent
court decisions on voting rights, it is quite possible that the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">County</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">Clerk</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">’s office could face
court censure and penalties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">I
strongly urge you to immediately cease and desist in your current approach to
Grace Period voting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); "> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 8pt; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); ">Patricia
Simpson, <span word="Ph" id="DWT159" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Ph</span>. D.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br><hr id="zwchr"><b>From: </b>"Michael <span word="Weissman" id="DWT160" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Weissman</span>" <<span word="mbwmbwmbw" id="DWT161" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">mbwmbwmbw</span>@<span word="gmail" id="DWT162" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">gmail</span>.com><br><b>To: </b>"<span word="occupycu" id="DWT163" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">occupycu</span>" <<span word="OccupyCU" id="DWT164" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">OccupyCU</span>@lists.<span word="chambana" id="DWT165" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">chambana</span>.net><br><b>Cc: </b>peace-discuss@anti-war.net<br><b>Sent: </b>Thursday, October 25, 2012 3:56:58 PM<br><b>Subject: </b>[<span word="OccupyCU" id="DWT166" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">OccupyCU</span>] opposing anti-voting measures in <span word="Champaign" id="DWT167" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Champaign</span> County<br><br>Regardless of how one feels about particular parties or candidates, I hope that everyone on this list wants to stop the various steps that have been used to prevent or discourage voting by minorities, students, etc. Gordy <span word="Hulten" id="DWT168" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Hulten</span> has started a very unusual, almost unique, new policy to discourage grace-period voting. Please circulate this widely so that:<div>
<br></div><div>1. People who need to grace-period vote (late registration) may have a chance to deal with the current system.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Maybe we can pressure <span word="Hulten" id="DWT169" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Hulten</span> to allow the same simple same-day system as almost all the rest of the state.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Please circulate this to other lists.</div><div><br></div><div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">CANDIDATE CHARLIE <span word="SMYTH" id="DWT170" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">SMYTH</span> CALLS ON COUNTY CLERK TO</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">ALLOW SAME-DAY VOTING DURING GRACE PERIOD</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span word="Urbana" id="DWT171" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Urbana</span>, IL—Among Illinois’ 102 counties, <span word="Champaign" id="DWT172" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Champaign</span> County is the only county where same-day voting is denied during Grace Period Registration and Voting (October 10 through November 3). Citizens may register, but must wait for an absentee ballot to be mailed to their address before voting. Wayne <span word="Countyand" id="DWT173" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Countyand</span> <span word="McDonough" id="DWT174" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">McDonough</span> County offer mixtures of absentee and same-day voting, depending on the closeness</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">of the election and the staff’s workload, and the City of <span word="Bloomington" id="DWT175" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Bloomington</span>’s Election Commission has a policy similar to <span word="Champaign" id="DWT176" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Champaign</span> County, but the rest of McLean County and every other county in the state allows or requires same-day voting.</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
Charlie <span word="Smyth" id="DWT177" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Smyth</span>, Democratic candidate for County Clerk, says he will allow same-day voting if he is elected:</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Voting is the bedrock of our democracy. During the Grace Period, citizens must go to the</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">County Clerk’s office, present a current state or federally issued photo ID and proof of</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">address. Having satisfied the lawful requirements, they ought to be able to vote right</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
then and there, as is done in the vast majority of counties throughout Illinois.</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">The extra step of sending an absentee ballot costs taxpayer funds, adds staff time, and</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
creates the risk that the voter's ballot will not be counted. Many citizens who use Grace</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
Period voting will not have their votes counted unless the County Clerk changes his</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">policy now, to allow Grace Period voters to vote as soon as he registers them.</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
The most pervasive voting problem is that too many citizens who are entitled to vote</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">are unable to do so. I call on the <span word="Champaign" id="DWT178" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Champaign</span> County Clerk to make the needed change</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">now to ensure that no registered voters are disenfranchised in this election.</div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span word="Smyth" id="DWT179" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Smyth</span> also notes that the voter guide published in the News-Gazette contains no information about Grace Period procedures. “If I am elected,” <span word="Smyth" id="DWT180" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Smyth</span> continues, “I will bring Grace Period Registration and Voting procedures in line with the rest of the state’s counties. I will make these and other improved instructions available in future voter guides, on the County Clerk’s web site, and other cost-effective venues. We need to do more to encourage broad participation in our democratic process. ”</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
Charlie <span word="Smyth" id="DWT181" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Smyth</span> will be available for interviews today and will hold a press conference on this and other voter registration irregularities in the current Clark’s office Friday morning, Oct. 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the City of <span word="Urbana" id="DWT182" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Urbana</span> Council Chambers, <span word="Urbana" id="DWT183" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Urbana</span> City Building, 400 S. Vine St.</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:12.666666984558105px;width:22px;font-family:arial,sans-serif;margin:2px 0px 0px;padding:10px 0px;outline:none"></div></div><div>
<br></div>-- <br>Michael <span word="Weissman" id="DWT184" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">Weissman</span><br>
<br>_______________________________________________<br><span word="OccupyCU" id="DWT185" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">OccupyCU</span> mailing list<br><span word="OccupyCU" id="DWT186" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">OccupyCU</span>@lists.<span word="chambana" id="DWT187" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">chambana</span>.net<br><span word="http" id="DWT188" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">http</span>://lists.<span word="chambana" id="DWT189" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">chambana</span>.net/mailman/<span word="listinfo" id="DWT190" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">listinfo</span>/<span word="occupycu" id="DWT191" class="ZM-SPELLCHECK-MISSPELLED">occupycu</span><br></div></div></body></html>