Illinois Becomes 18th State to Move Democratic Process into 21st Century and Allow Online Voter Registration, One of Quinn's 2013 Priorities

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation revising the Illinois Election Code to give residents the ability to register to vote online. First proposed by Governor Quinn during his 2013 State of the State address, Illinois is now the 18th state to allow online voter registration. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to increase participation in our democracy and ensure that every voice is heard in Illinois.

"Democracy works best when as many voters as possible raise their voices at the ballot box," Governor Quinn said. "Online voter registration will encourage more people to fulfill their civic duty by making that first step of registering to vote easier and more accessible. This new law will boost registration rates, cut costs and move Illinois' democratic process into the 21st century."

The 17 states that currently offer online voter registration have realized its benefits which include higher voter registration rates - particularly among young people - and lower processing costs.

"Online voter registration is the biggest advancement in expanding the electorate since Motor Voter passed 20 years ago," Cook County Clerk David Orr said. "I've long supported online voter registration because it's a convenient, secure way for voters to get registered and start participating."

"Online voter registration brings Illinois' election process into the 21st century," House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) said. "Making it easier for people to exercise one of our most fundamental and significant rights - the right to vote - is good for democracy."

"This law will increase participation in our democracy," State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said. "But it will do more than that. It will also save the state money. Processing a paper registration costs 83 cents. Processing an online application costs 3 cents."

Online voter registration is part of House Bill 2418 - the "Omnibus Elections Bill" - which includes other provisions, such as:

·         Changing the hours for early voting on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. -  Noon, to Noon -  3:00 p.m., to enable broader participation;

·         Requiring the State Board of Elections to post precinct-by-precinct totals for all of the state's precincts, and,

·         Codifying that votes cast for a candidate who drops out before Election Day but remains on the ballot will not be counted.

States that offer online voter registration include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Four more states - Delaware, New Mexico, New York and Ohio - have modified versions. Online voter registration is expected to be in place in Illinois by the 2014 General Election.

Earlier this month, Governor Quinn signed a law to allow 17-year olds who will turn 18 by the time of the general election to participate in that cycle's primary election. According to FairVote, 20 other states permit 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is adding her name to a resolution in support of comprehensive immigration reform this week at the annual meeting of the National Lt. Governors Association (NLGA).

"So many immigrants arrived in this country when they were just children, and when they succeed in our country, we all benefit," said Simon, the Midwest Region Chair of NLGA. "In Illinois, we recognize the tremendous economic benefit of these children and their families."

During the NLGA annual meeting, lieutenant governors will meet with experts on fracking and the federal farm bill, and are expected to vote on a bipartisan resolution supporting immigration reform and a way for foreign students to become valued members of the U.S. workforce. The U.S. Senate has passed immigration reform that would improve border safety and provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The bill is currently awaiting House action.

While at the conference, Simon will receive the 2013 Public Leadership in the Arts Award for State Arts Leadership from Americans for the Arts and the NLGA. The award recognizes leaders who work to advance the arts and arts education. In June, Simon helped launch the Illinois Arts Education Advisory Committee, which is tasked with developing a new state-level policy agenda for increasing arts education access and quality in Illinois. Prior to serving as Lt. Governor, Simon, a musician herself, spent five years as a member of the Illinois Arts Council.

DATE: Wednesday, July 17 - Thursday, July 18

PLACE: Skirvin Hotel, One Park Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73102

Enthusiastically awaits vigorous issue-oriented debate.

(Rock Island, IL) - Republican Congressional Candidate Eric Reyes issued the following statement in reaction to Bobby Schilling's Campaign Announcement.

"After learning of Bobby Schilling's announcement today that he would be joining me in seeking the Republican nomination for Congress, I am looking forward to a vigorous issue-oriented debate.  As someone who's worked his entire life to climb from the lowest of income brackets into the working-middle class, I can tell you that each day it becomes more and more apparent that the so-called leadership of this district has us headed in the wrong direction.

For most of a year, our district has seen time and money wasted on empty rhetoric meant to convince us that "listening tours" equal leadership.  Well, they don't.  Leaders take action, and that's why throughout this campaign I have and will continue to propose specific legislative acts that I will introduce immediately upon taking office.  Each of these proposals are built upon the same foundation as my campaign:  Less government, less war, more tolerance, and more liberty."

Eric Reyes is a Constitutional lawyer and former Assistant State's Attorney from Rock Island, Illinois.  A first-generation American and lifelong resident of the area, Reyes graduated from Rock Island High School, Augustana College, and Northern Illinois University College of Law.

For more information on Eric Reyes & his campaign, please visit his website: www.EricReyes.us

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