The back page of the September issue of Positively Naperville features an ad for Vote 2020, detailing the importance of going directly to the source for campaign information.
Since Naperville is located in both DuPage County and Will County (and even though this publication for many years has attempted to enlighten voters with only candidates featured on local ballots running to serve Naperville), PN recommends that eligible voters visit county election websites, www.dupageco.org/election or www.thewillcountyclerk.com/elections for all voter information. This year, in particular, has been one of many challenges to keep all information current, especially for mail-in votes.
For instance, in case you missed it, the Illinois General Assembly passed Illinois SB1863 in May, a law signed by the Governor in late June to expand Vote by Mail as a safe voting method during the ongoing pandemic.
In late July, local media were informed that the “DuPage County Clerk’s office is going beyond the SB1863 mandate to send applications to all electors who have participated in any election since the 2018 general election, by instead providing applications to all 616,337 voters in the DuPage County. Although not required, the Clerk’s office also will pay for the postage of all returning applications and ballots.”
The Clerk’s office is using funds made available this year through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for the mailing of applications and ballots, the release said.
PN tries to connect voter information regarding proposed amendment, new voting opportunities received via mail
August / In an attempt to connect correspondence “officially” received regarding new policies as voted in the Illinois Senate in late June, DuPage County voters received a tri-fold with “Official Election Material” in early August that stated, “Due to COVID-19, all 2020 General Election voters are encouraged to cast a ballot prior to Election Day, either by mail or during early voting.” (Note PN italicized the word encouraged.)
The inside included dates to vote in person, including Early Voting, Oct. 19 through Nov. 2, as well as Election Day, Nov. 3.
PN readers alerted us that the flip side of the Business Reply Portion when mailed would expose some personal information, including the applicant’s signature that would be matched to voter ID in voter records. That side is not displayed here.
September / After the official text became available for the “Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution,” (Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act, 5 ILCS 20), voter information with arguments in favor and against the proposed amended, printed in July 2020, was distributed to Residential Customer Illinois (electors) in early September from the Secretary of State via USPS. The “Form of Ballot” was included on page 5 of the voter information material.
Get Trusted Voting Information from Your Election Authority
Then on Sept. 16, 2020, the DuPage County Clerk’s Office emailed a news release titled “Get Trusted Voting Information from Your Election Authority,” urging reporters, candidates and voters to look to the Clerk’s Office for basic information about the election.
The release noted the County Clerk’s Office could provide “nuts and bolts issues” like:
- Mail ballot applications
- Drop box sites for mail ballots
- Early voting sites, dates, and times
- Election day polling places
- Key dates and details
- Election results
“Foreign agents and some partisans are broadcasting and posting distorted information about the election to spread confusion and distrust,” noted DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek. “For rock solid information about DuPage County elections, please come to the Clerk’s Office website or follow the Clerk’s Office on social media.
“Our website is the official source for election information in DuPage County. Other sources may intentionally spread falsehoods, or they may simply have outdated information since polling places may need to be moved. Some procedures – even election laws – have been updated since the March primary election to address the challenge of voting in a pandemic.”
Kaczmarek added, “We are asking reporters and candidates to refer to www.dupageco.org/election to find or double-check election information.”
PN was happy to oblige, mindful of Will County election information, too.
Message to promote ‘vote by mail ballot’ appears misleading
Then on Sept. 17, 2020, eligible DuPage voters who had not applied for a vote-by-mail ballot likely received a U.S. Postage Paid letter, complete with a message about early voting in six different languages.
Following instructions, a quick phone call to the DuPage County Clerk with a query regarding the confusing omission of General Election Day, regularly scheduled on the first Tuesday of November every two years, revealed that “Yes!” voters can vote at designated precincts on Nov. 3, 2020.
Polls open 6AM to 7PM Tues., Nov. 3
According to the County Clerk’s Office, the letter from the Secretary of State was intended to “rally registered voters,” a response to Illinois SB1863, passed late last spring in regard to Elections/Cyber Security.
The DuPage County Clerk’s Office said they’d been flooded with phone calls all day, some with questions noting the omission of the Election Day voting.
Many voters, we learned, regardless of COVID-19, intend a choice to vote in person during Early Voting and on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020.
PN readers also have asked, “How are all these mailings being funded?”
Funding is covered as noted by language in Illinois SB1863.
Certainly in recent weeks, considerable concerns have been confusing, raised by vote-by-mail initiatives that could be widespread with delays or even fraud.
It is our opinion that mailing your ballot at least a week in advance of Nov. 3, 2020, will help the USPS deliver votes that will be counted on time. Simply plan ahead.
Individuals age 18 on or before Nov. 3, 2020, are eligible to vote
Remember! Since 1965, all American citizens—all men, all women, all races and all creeds—are eligible to vote in the United States. In fact, U.S. election laws date back to Article 1 of the Constitution, giving states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections.
And since 1981, all Americans who are at least 18 years old on or before the next election are eligible to vote when registered.
Five Amendments have addressed eligibility in fair and free elections since the U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. The 15th Amendment ratified 1870, 19th Amendment ratified in 1920, 23rd Amendment ratified in 1961, 24th Amendment ratified in 1965 and the 26th Amendment ratified in 1981, as well as federal laws protect and advance voting rights in America.
Whether Voting by Mail, Absentee Ballot, Early Voting or at the polls on Election Day, be sure to make your vote count.
For voter information, visit www.dupageco.org/election in DuPage County or www.thewillcountyclerk.com/elections in Will County.
Some final thoughts about the 1770s…
Let all individuals also respect the Bill of Rights and its First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Even before the U.S. Constitution was signed and amended, Benjamin Franklin, who served in the Second Continental Congress, was elected America’s first Postmaster General in 1775 of the organization now called the United States Postal Service. Since then, the USPS has used every mode of transportation available to deliver the mail. Services have evolved with America, and new technologies aim to better serve a growing population, especially during the 2020 General Election, reports say.
Help promote a safe and secure General Election whether by mail-in ballot or in-person voting.
Thanks for reading!
—PN
