Thread: Elgin, IL: Illegal aliens may be registering to vote

Big surprise...they are naive to think that the well organized illegal alien lobby in Northern Illinois including Kane and Cook County isn't registering illegal aliens and non-citizens to vote.....

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Illegal immigrants may be registering to vote

January 24, 2008
BY DAVID GIALANELLA Staff Writer

It's a question many have asked: Is it possible for an illegal immigrant or a legal noncitizen to end up an illegally registered voter?

It appears the answer is "yes."
» Click to enlarge image
E-Slate voting machines site idle after a malfunction during balloting on Nov. 7, 2006, in Elgin's Precinct 17 polling place in The Centre of Elgin. It turns out that it is not impossible for an illegal immgrant to cast a ballot in Illinois, according to some local officials.

(Courier File)

» Click to enlarge image
Jack Cunningham.

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"It's a very difficult thing to handle," said Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham, who is in charge of elections and overseeing voter registration. "We never single out any group. There has to be a presumption that they are citizens unless it's proven otherwise. We, at this level, don't have much control over the issue."

According to a mail-in form provided on the clerk's Web site, voter registration applicants must answer "yes" or "no" to the question: "Are you a citizen of the United States?" Applicants also are given the option to submit a driver's license number or Social Security number, but doing so is not required, according to the form. Either a photo identification or another document -- such as a utility bill or paycheck -- can be submitted, the form states.

In Illinois, the counties hold authority over elections, and different counties handle the responsibility in different ways. For instance, some print their own registration documents, while others enter into contracts with outside companies for the forms.

While it likely butts up against constitutional law to ask for proof of citizenship only from applicants who "appear" to be foreigners, requiring a more stringent process may be only slightly more feasible, Cunningham said.

"You're also talking about staff and money," something he feels his office could use more of.

Though it hasn't been a hot topic in Springfield, illegal immigrants and other noncitizens voting remains a concern, according to one local lawmaker.

"It's absolutely possible, and it's a problem," said Illinois Sen. Michael Noland, D-Elgin. "I'm not sure how to combat that. I'm open to suggestions."

Even though illegal immigrants and those with temporary visas could fall through cracks in the registration process, Noland said he doesn't believe it's the result of some nefarious effort to get folks to the polls illegally.

One unexpected problem arose with Illinois' "motor voter" program, whereby some driver's license applicants accidentally were handed voter registration materials at the same time, Cunningham and Noland said.

Immigrants with temporary visas are given temporary Social Security numbers, so some can drive legally, but none can vote legally. While documented noncitizens can obtain licenses legally, illegal immigrants cannot because a Social Security number must be provided, a spokeswoman from the Illinois Secretary of State's Office said.

"They're not even attempting to do it," Noland said of noncitizens who end up on the county's voter rolls. "It's not like they made the attempt to become voters."

Still, a "series of bills" is needed to add more statewide safeguards, Noland said.

"There's got to be some strong indication that you are indeed a citizen," Noland said. "I don't have a problem with that."

According to Cunningham, just because not every registrant is asked to show a passport, it doesn't mean his office isn't keeping an eye out for suspicious entries on the county's master list of registered voters.

While errors can be made, Cunningham said he's not too concerned. But one thing is for sure, he said: it's a divisive issue.

"I'm very concerned that everyone who's on our list is legal," Cunningham said. "I don't think in Kane County it's a particular problem at this point. We have groups that come in and say it is, and we have groups that say it isn't. It's a very difficult issue."

On the Web

Kane County Clerk's Office

www.co.kane.il.us/COC/


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"It's a very difficult thing to handle," said Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham, who is in charge of elections and overseeing voter registration. "We never single out any group. There has to be a presumption that they are citizens unless it's proven otherwise. We, at this level, don't have much control over the issue."

And from the looks of it, they are not doing much to "prove otherwise."

I'm getting sick and tired of our elected officials telling me how difficut it is to handle this issue! If you cannot handle the job then get the heck out and let somone else do it for you.

It's really not a difficult thing to handle sir. Why cannot you presume they are citizens while your asking to see a drivers license or some other form of official identification?

This is all the more reason we need a National Voter ID Card to assist the brain dead like this gentleman here in charge of voter registration in Kane County.

How in the world do these guys get these jobs in the first place. I have been to graduate school and cannot find a plush job like this and yet we have morons in charge of this nations voter registration.

My mother was born in the US but never did have a driver's license. If she got a Social Security number (only was employed during World War 2) it was given to her long after birth. She lived on widow's SS and VA benefits. I realize this circumstance is rather unusual but there may be a certain percentage of US citizens who share it: Handicapped? Illiterate?

Calling registered voters to jury duty can begin to weed out non-citizens--so perhaps there would be a way to interview those who are registered as voters, but it would have to be done very subtly. Compounding this problem would be the reality that counties with a sanctuary mentality might balk at such a strategy. I do know that illegal aliens will not respond to a jury call.

We had some discussion of voter fraud regarding the Nevada caucuses. There are counties in the US where this could be a real problem, but I would think it would take a corps of radical activists to bring about a lot of voter fraud.

Any different view from Mexifornia?

Captainron,

Sure there are exceptions to every circumstance. However, I have to believe that the vast majority of American Citizens have some form of valid identification that would establish them as eligible to participate in the electorial process.

If they do not have an ID or want to get one then I'm sorry. Voting is a priviledge not a right and asking someone to have a valid piece of identification to participate is not asking too much.

It's not even about whether or not illegals are voting in our relections. If one illegal votes that that's one too many since that one illegal vote will cancel out an American Citizen whom has the right to particpate.

Rather, it's about preserving the perception and integrety of the voting process so as the citizens and the world will have continued confidence in our political process.

You cannot ask men and women to lay down their life for our democratic process and then not even take the most basic of steps to ensure the process is legitimate.

That's my take on this subject.

I certainly agree that voter fraud is a serious problem. Absolutely. It needs to be dealt with. And there is a danger that a certain Party, the D------- may use it to establish a perennial hold on American elections and forever topple the balance that we (sort of) have. This would usher in new hordes of illegals, H1B's, subversives, etc.

I was just saying that Cunningham's job might be somewhat difficult. However, now that I see where Kane County is located some protective measures would be a sound idea. We've generally been discussing some concepts---such as juror questionnaires mailed to all registered voters. If you could get local governments to implement that it would start identifying illegal voters, I think.