There are a lot of politicians who have asked you to vote no on a Constitutional Convention. They say the problems can be fixed by changing the law, not the constitution. For this to work you have to believe that the gang in Springfield is suddenly going to start listening to you and not continue to fight with each other and let the legislative leaders call the shots.
I have been watching Springfield for more than 20 years and I just don't see that kind of change coming down there. If you put your trust in your fellow citizens you will see the results you are asking for: a progressive income tax, properly funded education, ethics reform and many other things that have been on our agenda that never get anything more than lip service. Vote "YES" for Con-Con on Tuesday! Many others are also in favor: Chicago Tribune, Springfield State Journal-Register, Mark Brown of the Chicago Sun-Times, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
This is a little bit from the ACORN side of the issue. These folks, as an organization, are hardworking, dedicated people committed to empowering people who all to often have been powerless. Its odd that people get angry about them getting organized and utilizing the rights that every other American has.
Today marks the first day of Early
Voting and it continues through October 30, 2008. Early Voting Polls are
open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Saturday. Early voting is
available, only at the Chicago Board of Elections Office, on
Sundays from 9:00am until 12:00pm.
Why do I care about Early
Voting?
Early Voting gives you an
opportunity to vote when it is convenient for you. You're not locked into
voting on November 4. Your vote counts exactly the same, but you didn't
have to leave early or rush home to wait in a line to vote. And lines are
going to be a consideration this time since the turnout is expected to exceed
every high water mark that has ever been set. Do yourself a favor, stop
in and early vote if you can.
What is early voting?
Early voting is an opportunity for any
registered voter (Check your voting status here) to go to the polls and vote now rather than waiting for
Election Day. It isn't absentee voting so you don't need any reason other
than you want to vote today.
How do I vote early?
To vote early you must be registered
to vote and you have to bring a government issued photo identification card to
any of the 51 early voting sites in the City of Chicago.
And if
you work downtown you may want to stop by the main office for the Chicago Board
of Elections at 69
W. Washington on the 6th Floor
There
are a total of 51 Early Voting sites. All early voting sites are accessible. A
complete list of all sites is available from the Chicago Board of Elections.
So what if I
have not registered to vote yet? Am I out of luck and will not be able to vote
in the most important election in our lifetime?
Not yet, but you are going to have
to go the extra mile to make it. After the official
'deadline' to register to vote on October 7, voters have one last
chance under the "grace period" option. In the "grace
period" program, prospective voters must come in person to the Election
Board at 69
W. Washington and be prepared to register AND vote
during that visit.
The Chicago Board of Election
Commissioners officially will offer "grace period" registration and
voting through Tuesday, October 21, 2008. This will give Chicagoans who
are eligible to vote but who missed the registration deadline one last
opportunity to participate in the Presidential General Election. Under
this newer provision of the state Election Code, eligible voters may still
register or update their records and vote, but only in person at Election Board
headquarters.
Unlike voters who register by the
October 7 deadline, voters who update records during the "grace
period" cannot vote at their polling places on Election Day or in the
Early Voting program. To register to vote for the November 4 General Election,
persons must be citizens of the United States and 18 years of age or older by
November 4, 2008 and residents of their precincts 30 days prior to the
election. When registering during the "grace period," a person needs
to show two (2) valid pieces of identification, with at least one showing the
current residence address. Current address can be established be postmarked mail
or a signed lease among other things.
Need more information? Send us
an email at democrats@49thward.com and we will get back to you with helpful
information.
