David Orr Coffee Table

On Monday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill that will allow residents to vote in person at a designated location before Election Day without having to provide a reason or excuse. The early voting legislation promoted by Orr is part of a larger election reform package that takes effect prior to the March 21, 2006, gubernatorial primary election.

Under the bill (HB 1968), “no-excuse” early voting will begin 22 days prior to the election and end the Thursday before. Absentee voting will still be allowed by mail. However, any qualified voter applying to vote absentee by mail would have to provide a reason as required under current law.

More than 30 states allow no-excuse early voting at the office of their local election authority or at designated voting locations.

Orr hopes that people will take advantage of the in-person early voting provision in Illinois.

“This is going to make voting more convenient for the elderly and people who have busy schedules,” Orr said. “It will also take the pressure off of polling places and make lines shorter at the polls.”

Registered voters who show proof of identification will be able to vote at designated sites in suburban Cook County or at Orr’s downtown office using one of the county’s new touch screen voting machines.

Offices administering early voting will be required to provide the names of early voters to the election authority for each jurisdiction. The names of early voters would be made public on a daily basis.

The counting of ballots voted during the 22-day period would take place after the polls close on Election Day just as absentee ballots are counted now.

Other pieces of election reform pushed by Orr were also approved by the governor on Monday. They include:

-- Allowing people who changed their names to vote. Such voters, primarily women who have changed their last names, can cast a ballot if they complete a legal affidavit in the polling place. The affidavit will then be forwarded to the election authority, which updates the voter’s registration record.

Orr was outraged after the November 2004 election when state law forced the Clerk’s office to disqualify 236 provisional ballots cast in suburban Cook County as a result of name changes.

-- Allowing election judges time off work. This will help enable election judges to take an excused absence from work on Election Day without having to take a vacation day.

-- Eliminating local canvassing boards. Because local election authorities conduct elections and produce the results, requiring local canvassing boards to certify results is a process that is entirely ceremonial and no longer needed. (HB 2417)

Earlier this month, Blagojevich signed a bill that will extend the counting of absentee ballots. Under the bill, absentee ballots that are postmarked before Election Day and received by local election authorities up to 14 days after the election would permit voters who cast ballots in good faith to have their votes counted. (HB 115)

Orr plans to continue to press for other reform issues which weren’t part of the bill, including one that would permit voters who registered by mail to vote absentee by mail the first time they vote, as long as they have provided the proper identification.

Orr is also pushing for a provision that would allow same-day day registration, which would increase voter participation and enfranchise more people who are qualified to vote, including younger people who are more transient.

Identifying suburban Cook County voters
Clerk looks at voting from November and April elections

Thursday, July 07, 2005

When it comes to voting, men in their early 70s are the most dedicated to showing up at the polls in suburban Cook County , according to figures released by Cook County Clerk David Orr.

An analysis of the April 2005 Consolidated Election shows that 42.7 percent of registered 72-year-old men cast ballots, demonstrating the largest voter turnout of any age group. (See attached tables.)

Their voter participation far exceeded the county-wide average for turnout among suburban registered voters, which was 27 percent.

A similar look at voter participation in the November 2004 presidential election showed that two groups of women – those ages 55 and 61 – were the most committed to voting. The Clerk’s study showed that 82.4 percent of those registered females cast ballots last year, outpacing the county-wide female average of 74 percent and male average of 71 percent.

The analysis involved using voter registration files from each precinct to retrieve the dates of birth for voters who signed applications to receive ballots on Election Day. The information was then entered into the County’s voter database.

The process, which takes several months, produced a gender analysis of turnout figures for registered voters ages 18 to 100.

“We see confirmation again that older voters traditionally vote at higher rates than younger voters,” Orr said. “We unfortunately still see the lowest participation among individuals in their 20s.”

Although the lowest turnout in the April 2005 and November 2004 elections was among voters in their late 90s, who might have difficulty getting to the polls, they were followed by men in their 20s.

Less than 7.4 percent of 27-year-old men who were registered to vote in the April 2005 election cast ballots on Election Day. In the 2004 presidential election, men aged 21 had a 47.3 percent turnout rate compared to the countywide average of 74 percent.

“Considering that we typically see low turnout across the board for municipal elections, we’re encouraged that the turnout rates among younger voters in November were actually higher than what we saw in the last analysis we did after last year’s March primary,” Orr said. “Back then, the participation rates for those in their 20s ranged from only 9 percent to 20 percent.”

Orr noted that the Clerk’s Teen Democracy programs seem to be effective in fostering interest in the electoral process among high school students and their older peers. The programs allow students to register their friends to vote and to learn about the importance of elections.

Click here for the breakdown numbers*

Voting bill allows more registration time
Illinoisans could sign up 14 days before election

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Cook County Clerk David Orr urged Gov. Rod Blagojevich to sign legislation recently passed by the Illinois General Assembly that extends the state’s voter registration deadline.

Under the proposal, sponsored by state Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) and state Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) and approved during the fall veto session, prospective voters can sign up as late as 14 days before an election. The state’s current registration deadline is 28 days before Election Day.

"This legislation gives qualified citizens the opportunity to take part in the electoral process," Orr said. "Many people with busy schedules don’t pay attention to political campaigns until the final weeks before an election. If they aren’t registered a month before the election, they’re shut out of the process."

Orr noted that two of the three presidential debates this year occurred after the state’s registration deadline had passed.

Voters who sign up within the two-week "grace period" before the deadline, must register at their local county clerk’s or election commission’s main office or at locations designated by the election authority, according to the bill. This will enable election officials to verify each voter’s identity and confirm his or her address. Those voters will vote absentee, either in person at the time they register or by mail.

Several states, including Washington and California , have extended voter registration deadlines until the final two weeks before Election Day. Five states allow voters to register on Election Day.

If signed into law by the governor, the legislation would take effect statewide before the March 2006 primary election.

Orr issues absentee warning
Absentee balloting starts for primary voters

Monday, January 31, 2005

Cook County Clerk David Orr issued a warning to local political and campaign workers involved in the Feb. 22 primary election not to abuse absentee voting laws or illegally influence voters.

Orr’s office will closely examine voter applications to ensure voters meet the requirements to vote absentee and make sure that overzealous political workers do not manipulate voting.

"Political workers who take advantage of voters and make up their own rules without the interest of democracy in mind will not be tolerated," said Orr, whose office has sent letters to all 60 suburban committeeman and all candidates running in the primary. "I want to make sure that only honest votes are cast and only honest votes are counted."

Qualified voters in the 501 suburban Cook County precincts conducting primaries can now request to vote absentee in the Feb. 22 primary. Primary elections will take place in Berwyn, Calumet City, Cicero, Elgin, Hoffmann Estates, Maine Township , Palatine and Schaumburg Township . All suburban precincts will conduct elections on April 5.

Residents should return their completed absentee applications — no later than Thursday, Feb. 17 — to the Cook County Clerk’s downtown office, which will determine if a voter is eligible to receive a mail-in absentee ballot.

Voted mail-in absentee ballots can be mailed or delivered to the Clerk’s downtown office and must be received by the closing of the polls on Election Day (7 p.m. Feb. 22).

Under Illinois law, registered voters are eligible to cast an absentee ballot in person or by mail only if they are unable to make it to their polling place on Election Day. They must meet specific legal requirements (see attached). The most common reasons involve voters who will by out the county on Election Day or who are physically incapacitated.

In addition, except for a close relative or someone from an authorized messenger service, no one else should ever take possession of a voted mail-in absentee ballot to deliver or to mail.

No one may illegally help voters make selections. Voters who are blind, physically disabled or unable to read or write English may allow a friend or close relative to provide assistance in voting their mail-in ballot after receiving it from the Clerk’s office. Both the voter and individual providing assistance under the direction of the voter must complete and sign the ballot envelope.

Orr’s office will closely track absentee balloting on a daily basis leading up to the election. The Clerk’s office will: look for high concentrations or unusual increases in absentee ballot requests in particular areas; scrutinize applications to ensure that signatures on absentee ballot applications match original voter registration signatures; and search for duplicate applications.

The Clerk’s office will also interview voters who apply for absentee ballots to confirm they properly requested an absentee ballot and made selections on their own. Staff will also check with absentee voters to ensure they need to vote absentee and remind them not to allow a third party to handle them.

Orr has set up a voter fraud hotline – (312) 603-0909 – for voters to report any allegations of vote fraud.

The Clerk’s office will forward all evidence of possible absentee ballot misconduct to the Cook County State ’s Attorney’s office, which will investigate further and consider criminal charges. Third parties that handle the ballot or manipulate voting could face felony charges.

Orr believes that most political workers, precinct captains and campaign volunteers play by the rules and does not suspect illegal activity involving absentee balloting is widespread. However, more is at stake for local political organizations during odd-year local elections when turf battles commonly escalate.

Although most absentee voting is conducted cleanly and honestly, illegal absentee balloting has marred a few recent local elections:

In September 2003, a Cook County judge overturned a special election for the Calumet City mayor that took place earlier in the year after he disqualified absentee ballots that a political worker mailed or delivered to the Clerk’s office.

In March 2003, Orr’s office cancelled more than 250 requests for absentee ballots in Cicero and Chicago Heights after learning voters who applied for absentee ballots did not legally qualify to receive them.

In October 2002, a Cicero precinct captain was sentenced to 18 months probation after she was convicted on four counts of vote fraud for manipulating votes and taking voted absentee ballots to mail them before the March 2000 primary.

To request a mail-in absentee ballot application, qualified registered voters can:

print an application from the Clerk’s election website, www.voterinfonet.com. For more information, visit the absentee page.

call to request one from the Clerk’s office at (312) 603-0906.

write or visit the Clerk’s office, 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602.

Individuals who registered to vote using a mail-in registration form are not eligible to vote absentee by mail the first time they vote. If they need to vote absentee, they must vote in-person absentee.

In-person absentee voting will begin Jan. 31 and end Feb. 21. Eligible voters can cast ballots at participating village and township clerk’s offices or at the County Clerk ’s downtown office (69 W. Washington St.). Voters should call Orr’s office at (312) 603-1122 for downtown hours, or their local village or township clerk for availability, times and locations.

Incumbency big winner in Tuesday's elections
Majority of incumbent mayors and village presidents see success

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Unofficial election results show that 73.5 percent of incumbent and acting mayors and village presidents facing challenges in suburban Cook County won re-election Tuesday, Cook County Clerk David Orr said.

There were a total of 109 races for mayor and village president in suburban Cook County for the April 5 consolidated election, including 24 in which no incumbents appeared in a field of new candidates in contested and uncontested races.

Incumbents and “acting” village and city leaders defeated challengers in 36 of the 49 races where they competed for mayor and village president on Tuesday’s ballot, though certain uncounted provisional and absentee ballots could shift the advantage in some close contests. An additional 36 incumbents held on to their seats in uncontested races.

The rate of incumbent victories decreased only slightly from those during the last major mayoral elections in 2001, when sitting mayors and village presidents won about 81 percent of their contests. Out of 82 incumbents vying for top office four years ago, 47 faced challenges and 38 defeated their challengers.

In the April 5 consolidated election, the Clerk’s office has until 14 days after the election to count overseas and military absentee ballots and provisional ballots cast by voters whose eligibility to vote was called into question on Election Day.

A list of candidates winning contested races for mayor and village president is attached. To view complete lists of unofficial election returns, visit the Clerk’s election website, www.voterinfonet.com.

Mayors/Presidents Winning Contested Races (in suburban Cook County )

NOTE!! Results do NOT reflect votes for write-in candidates. The Clerk's office does not tally write-in votes because it does not conduct the official canvass of votes for local elections. Therefore, the certification of write-in candidates can take place only when local jurisdictions conduct their canvass of votes.

Municipality Mayor/President

± Alsip Patrick Kitching

± Barrington Karen Darch

± Barrington Hills Robert G. Abboud, Jr.

± Bedford Park David R. Brady

* Bellwood Frank A. Pasquale

* Berkeley Michael A. Esposito

Berwyn Michael A. O’Connor

* Blue Island Donald E. Peloquin

Broadview Henry Vicenik

± Brookfield Michael J. Garvey

Burnham Robert E. Polk

± Burr Ridge Gary Grasso‡

* Chicago Ridge Eugene L. Siegel

* Deerfield Steven M. Harris

± Dixmoor Keevan A. Grimmett

* Dolton William Shaw

* Elk Grove Village Craig B. Johnson

* Evanston Lorraine H. Morton

* Flossmoor Roger G. Molski

* Ford Heights Saul L. Beck

± Harwood Heights Dianne H. Larson

± Hazel Crest Robert (Bob) Donaldson

* Hoffman Estates William D. McLeod

* Homewood Richard A. Hofeld

* Inverness John A. “Jack” Tatooles

* Justice Melvin D. VanAllen, Jr.

Kenilworth Tolbert Chisum

La Grange Liz Asperger

La Grange Park James L. Discipio

* Lansing Daniel R. Podgorski

* Lemont John F. Piazza

Lincolnwood Gerald C. Turry

Lynwood Eugene “Gene” Williams

* Lyons Marie Vachata

* Matteson Mark W. Stricker

± Maywood Henderson Yarbrough

* Melrose Park Ronald M. Serpico, Sr.

Morton Grove Richard “Rick” Krier

Mount Prospect Irvana K. Wilks

± Northbrook Eugene Marks

* North Riverside Richard N. Scheck

± Oak Forest Joanne Kelly

Oak Lawn Dave Heilmann

Oak Park David Pope

* Orland Hills Kyle R. Hastings

* Palatine Rita L. Mullins

* Palos Hills Gerald R. Bennett

Park Ridge Howard P. Frimark

* Richton Park Richard P. Reinbold

* Riverdale Zenovia G. Evans

* River Forest Frank M. Paris

* River Grove Marilynn J. May

* Robbins Irene H. Brodie

* Sauk Village Roger Peckham

* South Barrington Frank J. Munao, Jr.

* South Holland Don A. DeGraff

* Steger Louis Sherman

* Stone Park Beniamino Mazzulla

* Summit Joeseph W. Strzelczyk

* Thornton Jack C. Swan

Westchester Paul Gattuso

± Western Springs John J. Lynch

* Wheeling Greg Klatecki

Willow Springs Alan P. Nowaczyk

Wilmette Christopher S. Canning

*Incumbent/Acting mayor or village president defeated challenger

±Challenger defeated incumbent

(All others were open seats)
‡ Incumbent Jo Virginia Irmen won the suburban Cook County vote, but was counted among defeats because she lost an overall vote of multiple counties in unofficial returns.

Orr releases first-ever referendum analysis
Clerk’s office examines voting for ballot questions over the past 10 years

Friday, April 01, 2005

Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office has issued an unprecedented analysis of referendums appearing on suburban Cook County ballots over the past 10 years.

Local jurisdictions in suburban Cook County have put 891 referendums before voters during elections in the past decade, with 57 percent winning voter support.

An examination of referendums beginning with the primary election of 1995 and ending with the primary election of 2005 showed that suburban residents said “yes” to service-related referendums – dealing with such far-ranging initiatives as street cleaning, establishing senior programs and enhanced emergency 911 service – almost 77 percent of the time. Tax-related referendums fared the worst with an approval rate of 51 percent.

Ballot questions in categories related to infrastructure, changes in government and a category of miscellaneous initiatives – such as annexations and airport construction – earned approval from voters 63 to 66 percent of the time.

“ Suburban Cook County voters overwhelmingly support more services in their local communities, infrastructure improvements and initiatives they think may streamline local governments,” Orr said. “Not surprisingly, residents are more hesitant about referendums they fear might affect their pocketbooks.”

Orr’s 10-year referendum report also indicated that suburban voters were most amenable to ballot questions posed countywide and by townships. Approval ratings were lower over the years for all other types of jurisdictions.

The analysis studied support for referendum questions by each jurisdiction type for cities and villages; townships; park, library, school, fire and sanitary districts; and the county.

Approval ratings were 100 percent and 75 percent respectively for countywide and township referendums, but didn’t reach 60 percent for any other type of jurisdiction. Park district referendums, which usually called for tax increases, were the least popular at 45 percent approval.

Other notable findings over the 10-year period:
Voters were 26 percent more likely to support tax increases through bond issues than direct tax adjustments, voting “yes” for 69 percent of bond-issue referendums, versus 43 percent for strictly worded tax referendums.

Referendums asking voters for tax increases to pay for services also enjoyed higher support than strictly worded tax referendums, 62 percent versus 43 percent.

Referendums posed to voters in primary elections won approval almost 5 percent more often than those during general elections.

Voters approved changes to city and village government only 53.5 percent of the time, but support for government-related changes for every other jurisdiction was almost 100 percent.

Suburban cities and villages put the most referendum questions on ballots over the past 10 years, 37.7 percent. School districts were a close second at 31.4 percent.

The full report is available at www.voterinfonet.com:
Analysis of Suburban Cook County Referendums: Feb. 1995-Feb.2005

For more information about the report, call Cass Cliatt, (312) 603-0931.

The questions put before voters: Categorizing the data

60.3 percent -- Tax-related referendums
At 60.3 percent, the large majority of referendums on suburban ballots since 1995 were solely tax related. These 537 ballot questions included referendums seeking voter approval for adjustments to tax rates, tax caps and tax extensions, as well as ballot questions that would affect taxes through the issue of bonds.

11 percent – Government referendums
Government-related referendums -- dealing with such issues as term limits, changing how elected officers are appointed, consolidating units of government, changing the form of government, and establishing home-rule authority – numbered 98 over the past decade, or 11 percent.

7.7 percent – Infrastructure referendums
Almost 8 percent of referendums dealt with infrastructure improvements. There were 69 ballot questions asking voters solely if they approve of the construction of new buildings, street maintenance, development plans, water systems or other capital projects. The wording of many of these referendums was advisory in nature and did not focus on the cost of funding the improvements. Again, ballot questions focusing on collecting funds for the improvements were counted among tax referendums.

4.8 percent – Service referendums
The smallest number of referendums, 4.8 percent, asked voters to support changes in the services offered by city, village, township and county governments. Included in these 43 ballot questions were such services as establishing senior housing, residential parking, ambulance service, fee-based recreation, expanding emergency 911 operations and library service for towns with municipal libraries.

School, park, fire and library jurisdictions did not appear in this category – although the argument could be made that they are exclusively service-based institutions – unless their ballot questions dealt with changes to a specific service program.

Also, while costs may have been associated with the service initiatives, the dominant service language for referendums in this category overshadowed references to the cost to voters. Referendums in which funding for these improvements dominated the ballot question were placed in the tax category.

16.2 percent – Miscellaneous referendums
Defying definition were 144 referendums presented to voters in the past 10 years that were mostly advisory in nature. These asked voters if they would support annexations, airport changes, gambling expansion, residency requirements for municipal staff and scores of other wide-ranging initiatives. Also included were referendums for which the dated records for the ballot questions were incomplete or unclear.

The numbers – A quick view
In every reference to voter support, the analysis counts the majority referendum votes cast only in suburban Cook County . For ballot questions posed by jurisdictions that cross county borders, the Cook County Clerk’s analysis examines only the approval rates for voters in suburban Cook County.

Referendums per calendar year* – 1995-2005(Feb.)

Calendar year Ref. requests Passed % Passed
1995 100 53 53.0%

1996 88 47 53.4%

1997 83 51 61.4%

1998 82 50 61.0%

1999 42 16 38.1%

2000 101 67 66.3%

2001 58 33 56.9%

2002 133 69 51.9%

2003 76 55 72.4%

2004 123 65 52.8%

2005 – Feb. 5 4 80.0%

Totals 891 510 57.2%

*Multiple elections (primaries and general elections) were held in most years

Referendums by jurisdiction type – 1995-2005(Feb.)

(See report detail: How residents voted)

Jurisdiction/   requests % of all Passed    refs          %  Passed
district type
Countywide      6               0.7%           6                      100 %
Fire                  55             6.2%            30                    54.5%
Library          73              8.2%            43                    58.9%
Municipal        336           37.7%           197                  58.6%
(city/village)
Park districts    111           12.5%         50                    45.0%
Sanitary            2               0.2%           0                      00.0%
School              280           31.4%         163                  58.2%
Townships        28             3.1%            21                    75.0%
Totals refs        891           100.0%        510                  57.2%

Approval rates by referendum request type – 1995-2005(Feb.)

(See report detail: The questions put before voters)

Ref. type Requests % of Total Passed % Passed

Infrastructure 69 7.7% 44 63.8%

Government 98 11.0% 64 65.3%

Service 43 4.8% 33 76.7%

Tax & Bond 537 60.3% 274 51.0%

Miscellaneous 144 16.2% 95 66.0%

Totals 891 100% 510 57.2%