Voters can now request absentee ballots

With the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Monday proclaiming the March 19th "Bill of Rights" Day, Cook County Clerk David Orr said voters can now request absentee ballot applications.

On the city side of government, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chairman Langdon D. Neal and his board adopted a ten-point program aimed at informing voters of their rights so their votes will be counted fairly and accurately.

For the first time, Langdon said there will be posters proclaiming the "Bill of Rights" posted at each of the city's 2,556 polling places on March 19th.

"Although some of the ten points are fairly basic, I think it is important that we re-emphasize to the voters that these are their rights which will be observed in every Chicago polling place," said Neal. I think it will help eliminate any confusion as to what a voter can and cannot do," Neal said.

The Bill of Rights, which is printed in English and Spanish, says: Cast your ballot in a non-disruptive atmosphere free of interference, vote if you're in line by 7 p.m., vote by affidavit if your registration is mistakenly challenged, vote at your old polling place if you have moved within 30-days of the election; request assistance in voting, if needed; bring newspaper endorsements or sample ballots into the voting booth; protect the secrecy of your ballot; receive a new ballot if you make a mistake or change your mind; screen your ballot after voting to ensure it's complete and correct; and have your ballot counted fairly and impartially.

Also taking a pro-active stance was Orr who too was not wasting any time in notifying suburban voters who will be out of the country for the primary election that they may apply for a mail-in absentee ballot from his office.

Voters may order a mail-in absentee ballot application by calling his office at: 312-6030906, log on to his website at: www.voterinfonet.com, write him at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602 or they may pick one up at their local municipal or township hall.

Orr said he'll begin mailing out these applications later this month and that voters have until March 14th to request a mail-in absentee ballot.

Once filled out, they should return it to Orr's office and once he has determined if the voter is eligible to receive a ballot, it will be mailed out to them.

To be counted, Orr said the absentee ballots must be received in his office by election day (March 19th) to be counted.

Those eligible for absentee ballots include voters who cannot make it to their polling placed on March 19th, will be out of the country or who are physically disabled. Others qualifying for these ballots include election judges, those serving on a jury, voters observing a religious holiday or students who are away at school.

According to Orr, there will be in-person absentee voting beginning Feb. 25 through March 18th at most municipal, township clerk's office in suburban Cook County and at his office as well.

For further information call Orr's office at: 312-603-0906.

And, for the physically disabled voters, Orr said with a physician's signature along with the applicant's notarized signature, they can take advantage of the Disabled Voter Absentee program where they can receive an absentee ballot application before each election for the next five-years.

Those who qualify for this program should call: 312-603-0930.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.