Kendall County Times

State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) is blasting the state House’s recent passage of a bill expanding the state’s vote-by-mail program as just more partisan politics.

“The Democrat majority is intentionally limiting who gets the applications because they believe that by doing so they can ensure Democrat victories,” Oberweis told the Kendall County Times. “This legislation is about protecting their majority and not at all about trying to help citizens during this health crisis.”

With the November election just months away, House Democrats recently banded to easily pass legislation (by a 72-43 vote) that calls for official vote-by-mail applications to be sent to any voter who applied for an official ballot in the 2018 general election, the 2019 municipal elections or the March 2020 primary.

Oberweis argues there's a better way.

“What I think makes sense is to provide ballot applications to all voters by including the mail-in ballot applications in the required mailing of the wording of the Constitutional Amendment that has to be mailed to voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election,” explained Oberweis, who is now running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) in the 14th Congressional District.

Oberweis adds the law requires the state send out notices regarding Constitutional Amendments on the ballot, and it makes sense to nclude the applications in the mailings. He said he’s not surprised that Democrats are seeking to do things differently. 

“The Democrat majority was not interested in this approach because the goal here is not to be responsive to the needs of the electorate, but rather to make sure they keep their majority in the House and the Senate,” he said. “Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to suppress voter turnout, but clearly Republicans are trying to increase voter turnout by making ballot applications available to all registered voters.”