State lawmakers are trying to help county clerks manage the upcoming special election for former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s seat in Congress. But with the clock ticking on the July 7 special primary election, some clerks in the 18th Congressional District say the deadline for action by the General Assembly has passed already. Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said Tuesday that he is moving ahead with plans to comply with a new law requiring counties to allow voters to register and vote on election day at each polling place.”I don’t have time to waste,” Gray said. “I think all of us have that same mindset,” Logan County Clerk Sally Turner said.
Clerks in the 19-county district earlier said they would have trouble complying with a new law requiring same-day voter registration that goes into effect June 1. When the law was signed, clerks throught the first election they’d have to be ready for wouldn’t occur until March 2016.
But Schock, under siege for lavish spending on office decor and travel, resigned, triggering a special election.
Not only did that set up a scramble among candidates seeking to replace him, but it sent clerks scrambling to find money to upgrade computers and train judges on how to handle registering voters at polling places.
Full Article: Special election forces decision on same-day voter registration : Election.