Will the Election Reform Bill be killed by the SCOTUS?

Just a few weeks ago the General Assembly passed a ground-breaking (well, for Illinois) new election reform bill which, in part, brings a cap on campaign contributions for the first time. But will this provision of the bill be ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court before it ever goes into effect?

The Supreme Court is set to rule on the constitutionality of limiting corporate campaign donations in Citizens United v. FEC. We will have to wait and see how far the Supreme Court will go in answering the yet unanswered question of the constitutionality of limiting campaign contributions. From USA Today:

If the Supreme Court opens the door to more corporate money in political campaigns, it could affect laws in nearly two dozen states and a host of governor's races next year, including high-profile contests in Texas and Connecticut, experts say.

...

"The Supreme Court decision has the potential to open the floodgates," said Paul Ryan, of the non-profit Campaign Legal Center, which supports campaign-finance restrictions.

..

State laws vary widely. They range from jurisdictions such as Virginia, Missouri and Illinois, which impose no restrictions, to Oklahoma where unions and companies cannot donate directly to candidates. In Virginia, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $972,877 to aid McDonnell — more than any other business group in this year's race for governor, according to data compiled by the non-partisan Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks campaign money.

Challenge: Candidate's address on petition

State Rep. Deb Mell's (former Gov. Blago's sister-in-law) petitions are being challenged. She is registered to vote at a different address than the one stated on the petitions she circulated (and, presumably, on her statement of candidacy). The law here is not clearly defined, though I think she has a big problem. From the Sun-Times:

A challenge was filed Monday with the State Board of Elections against Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) by a rival in the Feb. 2 primary, Joe Laiacona.

The basis for his objection is that Mell is not registered to vote at the address she listed as her primary residence, as Illinois election law requires, said election lawyer Richard Means, who represents Laiacona.

“This is a very common amateur mistake. But one would think as a sitting state legislator, she isn’t an amateur,” Means said.

Petition Challenge Season is Open

From the Tribune:

The madness begins again in earnest this week as hearing officers start considering challenges to petitions filed by political candidates in the February primary.

Cook County will be weighing 105 challenges, Chicago 28 and Illinois a record 32 as candidates and their supporters hope to win a game of "gotcha" and knock prospective opponents off the ballot.

Inside the beast

A very good article in the Suntimes today about slating of judicial candidates in Cook County.

According to some who stay, the slate starts out this way: Patti, Veal and Rochford. But suburban committeeman revolt, saying they want Epstein, an Evanston resident, on the ballot. They have the votes to claim their spot on the ticket so Rochford is dropped down to "alternate" along with Reyes.

It's somewhat ironic that Rochford is the judge pushed aside to make way for fellow "Corboy-tied" lawyer Epstein in that she lives even farther up the North Shore -- and in the last election became the first Democrat to win that suburban seat for the Democrats.

There's some discussion about the appellate case slamming Hill Veal, but minority committeemen insist they want an African-American as one of the three appellate court nominees and they judge her the best of the three that presented that morning.

I can’t keep going to my people and telling them to vote for these tickets that are all old white Irish guys -- we need some color on this ticket," said Ald. Lyle, an African-American attorney.

Illinois Needs To Authorize Online Voter Registration

Currently, the only way to register to vote in Illinois is to mail in a voter regisration form, fill out a form with a voter registrar, or to personally visit your election authority. This system should be updated to include online voter registration for four reasons.

First, online voter registration is more efficient. The current system requires a local election authority (usually county clerk) to employ people who must read a handwritten form. These forms can be filled out incorrectly or illegible. Your right to vote on election day will rely on a government bureaucrat interpreting your handwriting and not making a typo. Besides reducing errors and mistakes, it would also reduce waste and costs associated with voter registration by reducing the labor required of local election authorities.

Second, online voter registration would be easier and would increase voter participation. I have participated in many voter registration drives and it is already a widely held belief that a person can register online. Such a belief is, of course, wrong, and can lead potential voters into a fruitless and frustrated search into how to register. Furthermore, it is simply a convenience to the voting public.

Third, online voter registration will certainly not lead to mass voter fraud. Already, many states have implemented online voter registration successfully and without mass fraud, including Arizona, Washington, and Kansas. The most recent state to pass a law authorizing online voter registration is Indiana. That’s right, Indiana currently has a more technologically advanced system of voter registration then us.

Finally, online voter registration can be made safe and secure. Millions across Illinois bank and pay their taxes using the internet. Also, an Illinois resident can update their driver’s license and license plate information on the Secretary of State’s website. Online voter registration makes sense and should be available.

There is an organized push currently underway in Wisconsin to implement online voter registration. They have produced an excellent video which lays out in more detail the reasons for online voter registration. Hopefully Illinois will also get a concentrated effort to make this common-sense service available to the Illinois public.