Sample Ballots

[scandal 951]

When I was a registered voter in Santa Clara county - California I would receive a series of mailings from the county registrar of voters:

1. A postcard telling me the date of the election, voting hours, and the address of my polling place.

2. A booklet containing statements by all candidates running for state, county or local office outlining their positions. Also, statements pro and con each ballot measure or bond initiative on the ballot.

3. A sample ballot, which looked just like the real one I'd get in the voting booth. It listed all the offices being competed for with the candidates vying for those offices. And it listed all the initiatives and propositions on the ballot.

Typically those materials came to my home a few weeks before election day. With that information, I could do my homework, research the issues and candidates I cared about, and be a prepared voter.

I'm now registered in Illinois, and we have an important primary election in just over a week - Feb 2. This will be my first Illinois election. So far, all I've received is just the postcard telling me where to vote.

I know there are several key races. We have D & R primaries for Illinois governor, and for US Senate. And there are other state and local offices up for grabs as well. If I'm vague, it's because I don't have a full list. Can this really be how IL elections are handled? With a clueless electorate that only knows what's being contested when they go to the polling station? Are other states like this?

I did do an online search and found this:

http://www.evoter.com/

This is a private website that seems to give me a complete list of races when I type in my address & zip code. That will do, but I am quite surprised that the county election commission isn't providing this info, and that I need to rely on an external source for it.

How are things handled in your state?

[Pooky 3,844]

In Illinois, the only people who have all the necessary information on the upcoming elections have been DEAD for over a year.

[scandal 951]

In Illinois, the only people who have all the necessary information on the upcoming elections have been DEAD for over a year.