[SfN] CORRECTION! - federal voting rights even if address not up to date!!!

[Jim Buell]

Oooops, this turns out not to be quite true. At least, not according to 
information available either at polling places in Champaign, or via a phone 
call to the state Board of Elections office in Springfield. (217-782-4141)

Instead, one can vote "federal ballot only", only if they have moved from 
one precinct to another within the same jurisdiction, e.g. Champaign 
County; that is, you have to be pre-registered within your jurisdiction in 
order to vote at all, and you must vote within the jurisdiction where you 
are registered. To clarify, this means that if a UIUC student now living in 
Champaign is registered in Chicago and neglected to request & return an 
absentee ballot, it's time to fill that gas tank for the trip home! Polls 
are open 'til 7 p.m., so there's plenty of time.

Jim

 >It looks as if students and others who are registered outside Champaign
 >County should be able to vote federally here in town, if need be. I'd heard
 >this same info previously from an official in the Champaign County Clerk's
 >office. However, when I asked again today, no one there could/would confirm
 >it. Even so, keep it in mind and give it a try if you or anyone you know
 >hasn't changed registration to a local address. If hassles ensue, give me a
 >call on my mobile at 390-6368. We don't have to accept being disenfranchised.
 >
 >BTW, vote as early in the day as you can. This gives you up-to-date info
 >about how your polling place is set up, leaves you free to help others get
 >to the polls and to get out the vote later in the day, and lets you alert us
 >all to any hassles that may be put in the way of our exercising our rights.
 >
 >jim b.
 >
 >
 >This info, in this form, is from a Chicago Nader office staffer:
 >
 >>
 >>
 >>You can vote for president even if you are not
 >>registered at your current address!! If you have ever
 >>registered to vote in Illinois, go to your local
 >>polling place, bring ID that shows you are over 18 and
 >>bring something with your address on it (like a
 >>utility bill or any postmarked mail). You are allowed
 >>to vote for federal offices only. You just need to
 >>sign an affidavit that explains why you were unable to
 >>register. You'll get a different-colored ballot that
 >>only includes the presidential race.
 >>
 >>
 >>Keep in mind, however, that the local judge will
 >>almost certainly not know about this. Be firm -- you
 >>have the right to vote. Ask them to call their
 >>supervisor. We have this right because of the National
 >>Voter Registration Act of 1993. Finally, try to get a
 >>copy of Streetwise with all of this information if the
 >>judge is very unsympathetic. The article is on page 2
 >>of the 11/6 issue.
 >>