Quinn uses veto to push voter privacy in primaries

Quinn uses veto to push voter privacy in primaries
BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Political Reporter apallasch@suntimes.com
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
July 14, 2010
http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/2495992,CST-NWS-primary14.article


Illinois voters would no longer have to declare their party in a primary election under a surprise amendatory veto Gov. Quinn issued Tuesday.

Under new rules pushed by Quinn, voters would be handed the ballots of Republicans, Democrats and whatever other parties have primary contests. Voters then would privately choose which ballot to fill out.

No one but the voter would know which party's primary they voted in. Voters would not be able to vote in more than one party's primary.

His veto could be rejected by legislators when they reconvene.

Quinn said the bill will end the era of party bosses being able to check whether voters, and especially government employees, voted in the "right" party's primary.

The bill the governor was signing dealt with requiring Internet information about elections.

But since 1976, Quinn has objected to the requirement under Illinois law that when requesting a ballot in a primary election, "You must, in a loud and distinct voice, must say the name of your party," he said Tuesday. That's an invasion of privacy, Quinn said. So the governor took the opportunity to change the law with his veto pen.

Quinn argues the move will increase voter participation, saying states with similar "open primaries" see greater numbers of voters turning out on primary day.

Direct mailers who make their lucrative livings by keeping track of which voters have voted in which primaries in order to target campaign mailings to certain households can be expected to spare no expense to kill Quinn's initiative.

"The changes I've made have to be approved by a majority of the Legislature, both houses," Quinn said.

Steve Brown, spokesman for Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said the issue is "under review."

Republican Party Chairman Patrick Brady did not take a stand for or against Quinn's veto but scoffed at the out-of-the-blue way Quinn did it: "He governs like Blago. If he really believes this, why didn't he put it through the legislative process? The whole thing's strange -- the timing, the substance."

Quinn, who grew up in DuPage County, said "that county, when I was growing up, was quite Republican." He added he remembered "some people being afraid to vote in the Democratic Primary."

Under the current system, candidates are able to point out which party's primaries their opponents voted in in past years. Under a new law, that would end.

But for party operatives or businessmen used to having an easy way to target reliable Republican or Democratic voters for mailings or door-to-door canvassing, Quinn’s veto would represent a big change.

Quinn said party operatives could use “social media” instead.

"To have a written record for all time on how you vote, what political party you chose, I don’t think is necessary for organizing,” Quinn said.