I urge strong non-partisan public support of the suit that has been filed by David Orr, clerk of Cook County, against the repeal of the straight-party voting mechanism.
As a resident of Cook County, I am one of his constituents. As the executive director of the Council for Disability Rights, I am an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. In that capacity I believe the inability to vote a straight-party ticket will have an enormous negative impact on individual voters with disabilities, which includes many senior citizens.
As Orr has said, removal of the mechanism to vote a straight-party ticket will cause the 40 percent of Cook County voters who previously used it to spend far more time in the election booth, creating long lines. As lines lengthen, people who cannot stand for a long time will leave and perhaps not show up next time.
This voting option has been used in Illinois for more than a century and, according to research, has profited each major party at different times. So why change it? For political reasons, obviously: The Republicans were angry about the Democratic showing at the last election and struck back. Shamefully, they struck back in the dark of night–at the end of the session and without public notification or participation.
As a longtime non-partisan volunteer for the League of Women Voters, I also must protest this unwarranted political assault on the franchise. In my most non-partisan voice, may I remind you all that a straight-party vote does not negate the possibility of crossover voting down the ballot.
From a voter’s viewpoint, there seems to be no reason to support this assault on our franchise. It does appear to be an entirely political issue. Please stand with Orr, senior citizens and people with disabilities to preserve the choice to vote a straight-party ticket and the option for crossover voting.
