THE DAILY ILLINI
2020 ELECTION GUIDE Oct. 29, 2020
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Where do candidates stand on political issues? BY BELLA KEYS STAFF WRITER
The election is rapidly approaching with President Donald Trump facing former Vice President Joe Biden. You probably have heard lots of things about both of them, but what about the big picture? It has been difficult to pinpoint the facts on both candidates, as we currently live in a time full of misinformation. On the topic of masks, Trump has expressed his disdain for them, claiming several times he believes masks are unimportant. But at the same time, he changes his stance. At one point, Trump even said, “The mask, perhaps, helps.” Perhaps, as though there is not a 100% chance and plenty of science backing the fact that wearing a mask seriously decreases the chance of spreading germs. Not only this, but he has made many other inaccurate statements, including about ballots. Aside from the negatives, there are some positive things Trump has done, such as helping the workforce. According to the Washington Post, Trump did manage to decrease the unemployment rate to an all-time low. So there are some positives to keeping him in the White House. On the other hand, there’s Biden, the Dem-
that Biden has had some troubles in his past. According to an article from the New York Times, Biden “opposed busing in the 1970s,” which pertains to segregation. But he ultimately voted in favor of busing and desegregation as it was the right thing to do and since then has stayed away from scandals. So, there is an important decision in front of you, the voter. You must decide who to vote for and why you like them. Every vote counts, and if you don’t like either candidate, you should choose the lesser evil. Both Trump and Biden have very loyal supporters, and even if Trump’s supporters don’t seem as readily apparent as Biden’s, they still exist. They may be silent, but they are deadly. Therefore, in this election year, your vote counts. Your vote will be counted, and even if it is unlikely, there are elections where it — has come down to a minimal amount of votes meaning yours could really make a PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHIP SOMODEVILLA/GETTY IMAGES/TNS difference. So, this year, please get out there and vote. It takes five seconds, and it could ocratic Party leader, and he offers his own gate.” As well as this, Biden is pro-choice and be the difference between one candidate benefits and costs. According to his website, would like to make birth control more acces- getting elected over the other. Go vote. I Biden believes in building on the Affordable sible to women, according to the Planned believe in you; go be a part of history! Care Act by “giving Americans more choice, Parenthood website. He also has multiple reducing health care costs and making our ideas for tackling climate change. Of course, Bella is a junior in LAS. health care system less complex to navi- there are some drawbacks such as the fact ikeys@illinois.edu
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
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BRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI
A student enters an early voting site in the Illini Union on Friday afternoon. Americans between the ages of 23 and 38 are now the most represented generation in the United States.
Understand the political ideology generational gap Civil Rights Issues
a massive age gap amongst our population. Pew Research Center studies have shown that The current unrest in this country is palpable. One of life’s many double-edged swords there is a massive distinction between how Since the tragic deaths of innocent minorities, is the fact that we are all entitled to our own the younger and older generation feel about such as the killing of George Floyd and Breonna opinion. Everyone having their own unique many of this election’s following topics. Taylor at the hands of the police, protests have perspective can be a beautiful thing, as it flooded towns in every part of America. On one allows us to learn the things that our own life side of the issue, there are people seeking jusexperience hasn’t taught us. Aristotle once tice and reform so this type of tragedy can never said “It is the mark of an educated mind to be The majority of millennials and Generation happen again. On the other side, people see the able to entertain a thought without accept- X’s believe in government assistance for the resultant rioting as a bigger issue than the cataing it.” needy, even if it means going into debt. Mean- lyst of the unrest itself, and that preservation of Unfortunately during election season, there while, the majority of boomers and silent gen- “law and order” must be prioritized. are some topics that people find impossible eration (those aged 74-91) do not agree with According to another source from Pew to accept and entertain. Through growing up such government programs. This ideological Research, a 52% majority of millennials believed in the social media era, I quickly realized that gap possibly has links with another gap that that racial discrimination holds Black people other people were not given this same advice exists between boomers and millennials: the back. These numbers were much lower for the growing up. Whenever I witness people argu- wealth gap. Federal Reserve data shows that older generations, with only 36% of boomers ing their political opinions on Twitter (to obvi- boomers own 57% of the nation’s wealth while finding this to be true. Perhaps older people owe ously no persuasive avail) I wonder where all Generation X owns 16%, and millennials just their empathy to their demographic. While 79% these strong, differing opinions come from. If 3%. This wealth gap goes to show why boom- of the silent generation and 72% of boomers you are like Marvin Gaye and I, and you are ers, who are more estranged to financial trou- were white, the millennial generation is much wondering, “What’s going on?” — I provide bles than the younger generations, may have more diverse and only 56% white. This diversiyou a theory of how this election and public less sympathy for those in economic need. ty could lend to the reason why millennials are opinion may have gotten so divided. more emphatically left-leaning on multiple social According to a source from Pew Research issues, like immigration and discrimination. HowCenter, those aged 23-38 have officially ever, these trends still stand true when looking at passed up baby boomers to become the most From the same source, these trends can the views of only white people in each generation, represented generation in the United States. be seen in other progressive fronts, with furthering the argument that there is more of an Not only are millennials the new majority age 79% of millennials believing that immigrants ideological gap in age rather than race. group in the United States, but another study strengthen our country rather than burden it. from Pew Research also found that millennials On the other hand, only 56% of boomers (and are mostly liberal leaning/democratic. This 47% of silents) feel the same. These statisstark contrast of the new generation in town tics perhaps convey why Trump and RepubFinally, somewhere all generations mostly compared with older generations can tell us licans place such an emphasis on their stout agree. Majorities across all four main generations a lot about why we are so conflicted during immigration policies, as it is likely because find there is solid evidence of global warming. It’s this election, as some of the most pressing their old generation base generally thinks important to note liberals across all generations platforms of each political spectrum expose less favorably of immigrants. are much more conclusive on this matter, rangBY MATTHEW BEYER STAFF WRITER
Social Programs
Immigration
Climate Change
ing from 89-94% in agreement with evidence of climate change’s existence. Republicans, on the other hand, range from a much lower 46%-57%, with each party increasing with younger age. Also, the majority of Republican/right-leaning boomers and silents do not believe in climate change. The resounding opinion of liberals on this matter reflects the priority that the Biden campaign has placed on moving to green energy and cutting carbon emissions. The more divided opinion on climate change amongst conservatives reflects Trump’s prioritization of what our current fuel system is doing for the economy rather than making any changes. The reason for extrapolating this data isn’t to say all old people are Republican Trump voters or all young people are progressive democrats. Just because these hard facts may prove the existence of an ideological gap doesn’t mean everybody fits into this generalization. Instead, it’s a guide for those infuriating moments at the dinner table or in a Twitter thread, when you just can’t understand why somebody isn’t seeing eye to eye with your ideals. It is also crucial to realize how we are victims of groupthink with people of the same age and to ensure that going into this election we are not blindly following the political beliefs of our peers of the same age. You, as a citizen in America, should form your opinions based on what you truly believe in. Now, more than ever, we need educated individuals to make their own educated judgments and use the power of voting to make these views heard. Matthew is a senior in AHS. mebeyer2@dailyillini.com
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Election of 2020 carries historical significance BY MICHAEL BODENHAGEN STAFF WRITER
You can’t escape it. You hear it from the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. Snapchat and Facebook advertise it. Every other commercial on TV is about it. There is no hiding from the 2020 presidential election. So what exactly makes this election so important? Why is the whole world watching the United States? Well, in case you haven’t noticed yet, we are living in historic times. The world has been plagued with COVID-19 for the past nine months. The pandemic put the world as we knew it to a halt. As if that was not enough, it seems civil tensions in America are reaching a boiling point. This year has been quite an eventful one, yet the main event is still to come. On Nov. 3, Americans will determine whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump will lead the land of the free and the home of the brave for the next four years. This election season, the stakes are extraordinarily high due to the excess of major events that have taken place in recent history. As one could expect with any issue, there are two sides to each story, and this time the divide between sides is far greater than any divide we may have seen in our lifetimes. The first and arguably most obvious issue the candidates are going to have to address is the coronavirus. COVID-19 hit this country like a wildfire. What is very unique about the United States compared to other nations is that it has ultimately been up to individual states to decide how to handle the virus. Some states virtually shut down while others did seemingly nothing. This caused a great contrast in opinion toward not only the severity of the coronavirus, but also how to handle it. While some Americans have chosen to wear face masks in an attempt to save themselves from this virus, others have claimed the masks do nothing and that this whole ordeal is a hoax. Both sides refuse to give the other the time of day and the consequence is increased tension. While COVID-19 may be the issue affecting the most Americans, one event has led to far more conflict this year. On May 25, George Floyd lost his life while pinned to the ground by a police officer. The uproar that followed will likely be remembered forever. All across the nation there were demonstrations — some peaceful, some violent. It can be argued that the Black Lives Matter movement gained more popularity than ever this summer. However, with supporters comes opposition. The other side of this coin is supporting the police, and these two opposing groups seem to be mortal enemies. This social issue has become so heated that each candidate in this election has been depicted as supporting one side and one side only. While this is most likely untrue, the
CAMERON IRELAND THE DAILY ILLINI
public refuses to believe otherwise. The result is a divided country that is fearing the upcoming election. The current situation in America makes me wonder: Has it ever been this bad before? The answer is yes, it sure has! There are many memorable elections in United States history. In 2000, George Bush beat Al Gore by five electoral votes despite losing the popular vote. Harry Truman won the 1948 presidential election despite the Chicago Tribune falsely proclaiming he had lost. However, I believe the 1860 election most closely resembles the one we face this November. Now, how on Earth could an election from 160 years ago possibly be relevant today? First, allow me to set the scene. Tensions surrounding the issue of slavery were rising in the 1850s. Slavery dominated American politics during this time. There was conflict in Kansas due to debate over whether the state should enter the Union as a free state or a slave state. Many Americans were
killed in Kansas during this period. In 1857, the Dred Scott case dominated the media when he was denied his freedom, a major blow for African Americans in the United States. In 1859, John Brown led a two-day raid on Harpers Ferry, resulting in even more bloodshed. While all these events were stirring the pot, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan failed to address the issue of slavery, thus making things worse by passing this mess off to the next president. By the time the election came around, Americans in both the North and South were fed up. They both agreed something needed to be done but did not see eye to eye on how to resolve this issue. Enter Abraham Lincoln, a man who would go down in history as one of the most important Americans to ever live. For Northerners, he was the messiah. In the South, he was an outlaw. Despite not even being listed on Southern ballots, Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election by a mile.
Unfortunately for America, the result of this election would be a civil war that claimed tens of thousands of lives. However, President Lincoln became integral in abolishing slavery. Fast forward to present times and you will find that slavery is still illegal, though we continue to see conflicts that stem from the 13th Amendment. If I had to compare the current state of America with any period in history, I would say we are like that of pre-1860 election America. No matter which side of the social issues you are on, there is absolutely no denying that tensions are higher than any of us have ever seen in our lifetimes. The events that follow this upcoming election will go down in history. If you care at all about any of these issues, you must do your patriotic duty as an American and vote! Micheal is a senior in LAS. mboden3@dailyillini.com
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Decide who to support in the 2020 election BY SHIVALI SHUKLA ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
More than 50 million Americans have already cast their vote for the 2020 presidential election, setting a pace that is predicted to surpass voter turnout records since 1908. Voting methods vary across each state, with five states not allowing voters to submit absentee ballots without a valid reason such as illness or military deployment. These states are Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Regardless of whether you vote by mail or in person, your ballot will be included in a statewide tally that will be counted to determine which candidate will receive the electoral votes of each state. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress. For 48 out of 50 states, the winning candidate receives all electoral votes, while Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system to assign their electors. A single candidate must receive at least 270 electoral votes to ultimately win the presidential election. As of July 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the electors must follow their state’s popular vote, which means no elector is allowed to challenge the popular vote as some states previously allowed. The popular vote is the winning candidate based on individual ballots per state — this means every vote counts, including yours. So how do you know who to vote for? Many voters cast their ballots based on the political party they affiliate with. Others rely on individual candidate stances on national issues to determine who to vote for each election season. The two largest political parties recognized in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, while most states also recognize the Libertarian Party and the Green Party. Here’s where each party stands on important national issues. CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI
Democratic Party
The top three priorities of the Democratic Party in this election include reducing income inequality, addressing climate change, and protecting and expanding access to health care. The Democratic Party supports increased taxes for the top 1%. The Democratic National Committee states, “Democrats believe health care is a right, diversity is a strength, the economy should work for everyone, and facts and truth matter.” The Democratic Party is the oldest political party, founded in 1848, and is being represented this election by former Vice President Joe Biden.
ing cuts, open markets, lawful gun ownership, strict immigration policies and the disestablishment of the Affordable Care Act. The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery expansion activists and rose to power under leadership by former President Abraham Lincoln. President Donald Trump is the current Republican Party nominee.
Libertarian Party
Considered the third-largest political party in the United States, the Libertarian Party values individual sovereignty and the ability to maintain their values above all others. Their Statement of Principles claims, “We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole The Republican Party has, historically, dominion over their own lives, and have the advocated for tax cuts with balanced spend- right to live in whatever manner they choose,
Republican Party
so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.” The party also states that the government does not have the right to violate the rights of individuals; Libertarians oppose the use of physical force against any person, the attempt to restrict freedom of speech and the interference with private property by the government. For the 2020 presidential election, the Libertarian Party has nominated Jo Jorgensen as their candidate.
the Green New Deal and nonviolence, among other things. The Green Party was founded in 1984 and developed a set of Ten Key Values that are integral to the party today. Howie Hawkins will represent the Green Party in the election this year. It is important to keep in mind that not all those who identify with a particular political party maintain the same values that each party represents. It is always highly recommended to do your research on each candidate running for any election prior to voting to make sure your personal ideals and values are represented within our federal and local The Green Party structures its values governments. Whoever you vote for this elecaround four pillars: peace, ecology, social tion, make sure your voice is heard! justice and democracy. Affiliates support the Black Lives Matter movement, clean Shivali is a senior in AHS. water, women’s equality, Medicare for all, sshukl5@dailyillini.com
Green Party
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Supreme Court nomination may influence election BY HALEY BICKELHAUPT STAFF WRITER
Editor’s Note: This story was written before Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed by the Senate on Monday.
released his thoughts on the integrity of the current system. He stated, “This confirmation process falls squarely within history and precedent. Neither falsehoods nor strong feelings change the facts.” In recent years, President Barack Obama underwent a similar situation before the presidential election of 2016. Following the death of Antonin Scalia, Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the vacant position. In contrast to the current situation, the Democratic party was not in control of the Senate. This resulted in no action taken toward Garland’s nomination. Barrett’s circumstances are different. As the Republican Party controls the Senate and is represented in the White House, the attention is also drawn to how this event could affect the election. With the current “4-4 court,” as Senator Ted Cruz described the court’s leniency, there are many differing opinions on the addition of Trump’s nominee. Barrett’s nomination has brought into the spotlight many pressing issues American citizens and politicians have concerns about. As tensions rise and political parties work toward opposing goals, all current news, including Barrett’s nomination, may influence Election Day outcomes.
On Sept. 18, President Donald Trump released a statement on the impact of late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It states, “Today, our Nation mourns the loss of a titan of the law.” Now, Supreme Court Justice nominee Amy Coney Barrett is in a position of influence on the current election year. In the history of the United States, a Supreme Court vacancy has occurred 14 times during the year of an election. In the last 100 years, there are three Supreme Court justices that have been confirmed during these monumental years. These include Benjamin Cardozo in 1932, Frank Murphy in 1940 and Anthony M. Kennedy in 1988. As the 2020 election occurs in less than two weeks, there is opposition from both political parties on the best way to handle this matter. On one side of the spectrum, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi shared her feelings of distraught toward the current nominee. She stated, “Every vote to confirm this nominee is a vote to dismantle health care. The American people will hold every Senator responsible for their vote at the ballot box.” Haley is a sophomore in ACES. However, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell haleyb2@dailyillini.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN WALSH/POOL/GETTY IMAGES/TNS
Seventh U.S. Circuit Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as she begins a series of meetings to prepare for her confirmation hearing on Sept. 29.
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Make voting accessible, enable minorities to vote BY SHALINI ATLURI STAFF WRITER
may be mitigated with factual knowledge. There are 28 states that allow employees time off to vote. One of these states is Illinois. In fact, Illinois goes even further and grants Election Day a state holiday. People that have disabilities may experience difficulties with accessing polling places due to inaccessible sidewalks and buildings. Solutions for this issue include making a plan to vote well in advance of Election Day. People can also take advantage of vote-by-mail. Overall, some overarching ways to encourage minority populations to vote is to mobilize them through using community resources. Engagement with key community leaders can be important to persuade higher voter turnout. Some examples of community leaders that can set an example are religious leaders, community health workers and highly-respected officials. These solutions provide a way for minorities to feel like they should exercise their voting rights. Minority voter turnout is important because this nation is built on the backbone of diversity. Allowing minority viewpoints, ideas and voices to be heard will promote a more fair and equal America. In addition, minority voting allows for increased representation of their ideas within the local, state, or federal government. Electing government officials that advocate for the concerns important to them is yet another way for minority voices to be heard. On a positive note, census data showed that there was an 11% point increase in non-Hispanic Black voter turnout and a 13% point increase among the Hispanic voters in the 2018 election. This is promising evidence that minority voter turnout can increase.
As the nation becomes more diverse, it is important for every voice to be heard. The beauty of the United States is its ability to attract a wide variety of ideas and perspectives to bring about a more just, equitable society. With the nation’s ability to attract and foster non-white racial and ethnic groups, minorities play an important role in the political process. In addition, people have to be mindful that one in five eligible voters has a disability. However, minorities face problems in exercising their voting rights successfully, and this can contribute to the low minority voter turnout. Some of the challenges that minorities face are language barriers and perceived lack of time. One of the reasons minority groups may experience lower turnout at the polls is the lack of accessible materials in a language they are familiar with. This creates a problem for people, because they may feel confused and overwhelmed. In addition, illiteracy or low proficiency in English may bring about confusion and overwhelming feelings when it comes to voting. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission provides tips on how people whose first language is not English can still take part in voting. On Election Day, polling places should use bilingual poll workers. They can wear name tags that translate to “I speak ‘insert language’.” This can help people quickly identify who they should talk to on Election Day if they have any questions or concerns. Ballots in different languages may also be an effective way to increase voter turnout. For vote-by-mail ballots, packets can contain translated information to promote voter participation. Shalini is a senior in AHS The other challenge, perceived lack of time, satlur3@dailyillini.com
I VOTED
ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILY ILLINI
Forgot to register in time? You are still able to vote BY MEGHAN LYONS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
BALLOT
JONAH OZER THE DAILY ILLINI
The polls in Illinois will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. Make sure you have proper forms of identification. At the polling place, you must have a valid form of identification, including the following: • an Illinois driver’s license; • a United States passport; • a U.S. military ID Obviously, you must be above the age of 18 and a citizen of the United States to vote. Aside from Election Day, early voting is still going on up until the day before the election on Nov. 2. For early voting, the process is the same as voting on Election Day.
Election Day is rapidly approaching and is now less than one week away. Given this is a college newspaper, the people reading this article most likely are voting in their first presidential election. Are you unsure if you are already registered to vote? You can check your voter status on the official Illinois state website. If you are just now realizing that you’ve forgotten to register to vote, don’t freak out. Though the deadline to register to vote online has passed, you can still vote on the day of the election. Here’s what you need to do. Find your local polling place in advance. You can find where your local polling place is simply by entering your address at the following link: https://www.vote.org/ Meghan is a junior in LAS. polling-place-locator/ mslyons2@illinois.edu
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI
So what is the Electoral College, what does it do? BY SHIVALI SHUKLA ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
In 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump won the election despite losing the popular vote by almost 3 million votes. To understand how, let’s break down the Electoral College. The National Archives explain how the Electoral College is chosen and how the electors determine our country’s Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees. The Electoral College dates back to the Constitution and consists of 538 electors who are chosen by the voters themselves. Each political party in every state selects potential electors who are later voted on during the general election, called a slate. The electors chosen may be state-elected officials, party leaders or people in the state with a personal or professional affiliation with their party’s Presidential candidate.
When the general election occurs in each state, the winning candidate’s slate of potential electors are appointed as the state’s electors — except in Nebraska and Maine where electors are distributed proportionally. The winning electors are the people who actually get to cast their vote for presidential and vice presidential candidates. When you cast your own ballot, you’re telling your state which candidate’s electors you want to vote in the election, not voting for a candidate yourself. The state uses your vote to decide who to appoint as its electors. Each state is allocated the same number of electors as Congressional representatives (both House and Senate combined). Illinois thereby gets 20 electoral votes, the largest in the Midwest. The Electoral College was created to ensure that citizens in less populated states are still able to influence election out-
comes. Some states receive more electoral votes than others. Therefore, it’s possible for a candidate to win the election in more populated states, gaining a larger number of individual votes and thereby winning the popular vote. At the same time, they may have won in a fewer number of states overall, thereby obtaining fewer electoral votes and losing the presidential election. To win the election, a single candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes. On election night, it is most often assumed that the winning candidate’s electors in each state will vote for him/her only, and all of the electoral votes given to a state (again, with the exceptions of Nebraska and Maine) will be assigned to the winning candidate. In reality, however, the electors do not cast their votes until the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December after the general election. Immedi-
ately following the general election, the governor of each state will prepare a Certificate of Ascertainment, which lists the names of the members of each candidate’s slate as well as the number of votes each member received. This document states who we chose as our state’s electors. When the electors meet in December, they congregate in their respective states and cast their votes for president and vice president on separate ballots. These votes are recorded on a Certificate of Vote and sent to Congress to be counted on Jan. 6 in the year following the meeting of the electors. The elected candidate will be sworn-in on Jan. 20 and be able to fulfill his or her four-year term as President of the United States of America. Shivali is a senior in AHS. sshukl5@dailyillini.com
The Daily Illini
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Mail-in voting increase chance of ballot rejection counted and 471 ballots that were sent but never returned. In the 2018 general election, Champaign County had 589 uncounted mail-in ballots and 1,128 ballots sent but never returned. Data from the 2016 election was not available on the Board’s website. The Washington Post reported that ballots from younger, minority and first-time voters have more of a chance at being rejected for several reasons. In the 2016 general election, about 1% of the 33.2 million mail-in ballots were rejected with listed reasons as, an unmatched signature on the ballot from state records, no signature on the ballot at all, return envelope problems or a missed deadline. One of the top reasons for a rejected ballot is a signature that doesn’t match the state’s signature on file. Many states’ envelopes for mail-in ballots require a signature to determine eligibility and identity. Some other states, such as Kentucky or Alabama, require the signature of a witness as well. Illinois, however, only requires the signature of the voter. Voters are also encouraged to return their ballots as soon as possible. Some states do only accept ballots received on Election Day, while others will count them if they arrive late as long as they are stamped for on or before Election Day, Nov. 3. Illinois will count ballots as late as Nov. 17. Illinois residents voting by mail should have been registered by Oct. 6, requested their ballot by Oct. 29 and returned their ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received no later than Nov. 17. Illinois residents are also able to register and vote on Election Day, in person.
BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
Many of those who have voted in a general election before may be used to the in-person voting in a booth setting. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has slightly changed the way voting will happen this upcoming election. With Election Day on Nov. 3, many people will have already sent in their ballots via mail in order to avoid crowds or lines at polling stations. Although polling stations will be open, they most likely will be adhering to social distancing protocols. Voting by mail may also cause unexpected drawbacks, such as a ballot getting rejected. During the 2016 election, less than 1% of the mail-in ballots were rejected in Illinois and in 2018, 1.4% of mail-in ballots were rejected, according to ABC 7 Chicago. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, more than 1.5 million Illinois residents have already cast ballots during the early voting period for the 2020 election. As of Friday, about 1 million people had sent in their mail-in ballot out of the 2.3 million people who requested absentee ballots. In 2016, about 370,000 people voted by mail. ABC 7 Chicago reported that the highest number of mail-in ballots requested was during World War II with 116,117 applications. The Illinois State Board of Elections has been recording mail-in ballots that were mailed in but not counted as well as ballots that were sent but never returned. In the 2020 primaries, for example, 117 ballots were mailed in from Champaign County but not counted, and 770 ballots were sent out to voters but never returned. In the 2018 primaries, Champaign Coun- Samantha is a senior in Media. ty had 13 ballots that were returned but not sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
Champaign County primary, general election mail-in ballots never returned Source: Illinois State Board of Elections
1,300
650
600
Mail-in ballots not counted in Champaign County primary, general elections
Data for the 2019 primary elections has not yet been reported.
300 Data for the 2019 primary elections has not yet been reported.
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections
0
2017
2018
2019
?
0 2017
2018
2019
? 2020
2020
SAMANTHA BOYLE THE DAILY ILLINI
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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Don’t discount your state, local elections BY NOAH DAVIS STAFF WRITER
With all the chaos surrounding this presidential race, it has been a refreshing change of pace to focus my attention on the candidates running for office at the state and local levels. Until this crisis, so many Americans had little to no clue who their state and local public officials were, including what they stand for or what they have done since entering office if they are campaigning for re-election. Never in my life did I think I would see so much attention given to decisions made by mayors, governors, school board members or local prosecutors. National elections gain the most publicity. While I am sure there is some coverage of state or city-wide races on local news channels, most fail to notice how important of a role local institutions play in our lives. Those mayor and gubernatorial elections will be making the executive decisions, from details of lockdown plans, overseeing the logistical complexity of vaccine distribution when the day comes — fingers crossed — rapid testing initiatives and reopening schools and businesses. These are not simple tasks, nor can we afford to convince ourselves to ignore policymakers who play an imperative role in public health, business and education.
Researching the pros and cons of proposed ballot measures has also been a respite from the emotionally charged tenor of political discourse today. I felt relief from reading the following source providing balanced, dispassionate representations of what voting yes or no entails for measures in Illinois, along with reputable facts and statistics illuminating potential costs and benefits of each measure proposed. The debate surrounding propositions is independent of character attacks and headlines diverting attention from substantive issues at hand. According to a source from Ballotpedia, you can evaluate a thorough nonpartisan analysis of the Graduated Income Tax Amendment being voted on this year in the state of Illinois. This measure would repeal the state’s constitutional requirement from 1970 that state personal income taxes are enacted at a flat rate, leading the way for the Illinois state income tax to go from a flat rate to six graduated rates, which would go into effect Jan. 1. As undergraduates are close to entering the workforce, all elections and ballot measures this year will play an integral role in how the first few years of post-graduate life will play out. In this way, especially at state
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
and local levels, whatever side of the aisle you are on or your personal stance on candidates and what the most salient issues are, it is important we do we what we can to make our voices heard in influencing how our communities will look a few years from now. As a plus, if you tell your friends you have done
your research on local races and down-ballot measures, friends will likely take your word for it because they might be too lazy to look into these topics themselves. Noah is a senior in Business. noahd3@dailyillini.com
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
Election proves substantial for first-time voters BY ELIZABETH SAYASANE FEATURES EDITOR
Voting as a college student means entering the electorate at a tumultuous time in one’s life. For most of the University’s student body, the 2016 election took place before they reached the golden age of 18. Now they have been tasked to fulfill their civic duty in the midst of a pandemic, a historically divisive political climate and an already generally confusing and stressful time in a young adult’s life. Very few people have escaped the stress and uncertainty that accompanies COVID-19. Students lost internships and jobs. They had to make the difficult decision of whether to stay home, dealing with the potential distractions and difficulties associated with family life, or to come back on campus with increased risks for catching the virus. When it comes to voting safely during a pandemic, debates have raged across the country. Many have fought hard to increase the ease and accessibility of mail-in voting. Others have worked to deter this by threatening that ballot security cannot be counted on through the mail. Experts say mail-in voting does not carry any significant risks. For those who cannot leave their house, their ballot should be safely carried by mail. Some political agents, though, are doing their best to persuade the electorate otherwise. Many will decide in-person voting at their local polling places is the best option. Early voting locations have been open in Champaign County since Oct. 19 and easily accessible for students on campus. As far as COVID-19 precautions, they have markers on the floors to keep those waiting in line socially distanced. Every pen used is thoroughly sanitized before being handed out again. All the election judges wear masks to protect themselves and others while also encouraging all those who come to vote to wear a mask as well. Overall, those organizing these voting locations have been working hard to offer a safe environment for all those who look to cast their vote. Before even confronting the safety precautions necessary to fill out a ballot, though, new voters must do their best to navigate what has become a toxic political climate for many. The last four years have seen extreme divisiveness between the two major U.S. political parties. While many government platforms have histories of cruelty and unkindness, many politicians seemed to have lost any sense of decorum they may once have had. Those watching the news have seen congressional representatives call each other names many would never repeat in front of their mothers. Entire demographics of the population have been criminalized or tar-
RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
Champaign County residents vote at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana, Illinois on Sept. 24. Polling locations nationwide have implemented COVID-19 precautions.
gets of harsh political attacks. The presidential debates have lacked the civility one would be able to find in a high school debate club, much less a nationally televised debate meant to help determine the new leader of the country. With so many new voters seeing this as their first impressions of the democratic process, it’s reasonable many would find themselves experiencing extreme stress and anxiety. Those voting for the first time should keep in mind that this behavior should never be considered acceptable and they have the power in their vote to hold politicians to a higher standard. One more stressor many college students
face extends beyond just the voting process and that is finding confidence in their beliefs and positions. Many students would say they know their political alignment generally speaking. However, with the accessibility citizens have to politics and the lives of politicians now, some feel expectations are higher for the depth of one’s political knowledge. It is important to be knowledgeable about political issues and aware of how it affects not just one person’s life, but everyone’s. It is not feasible, however, to know the effects of every single public policy decision. When going to the ballot, one might not know every single candidate on the ballot,
or every single office being filled. The solution can be as simple as bringing a phone into the voting booth to Google candidates along the way. This is allowed in most states, including Illinois. Elections have a lot of news and information that reporters and politicians try and impress upon voters and it can be stressful to try and absorb all of it. A useful destressing technique is relieving oneself of the burden to know everything. One can fulfill their civic duty by making sure to stay informed and aware. Elizabeth is a senior in LAS eis3@dailyillini.com
Thursday, October 29, 2020
The Daily Illini
12
Find best voting location on Nov. 3 Several locations are available on campus for students to vote, regardless of home address BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
Figuring out where you’re able to vote can oftentimes be pretty confusing. Luckily, Champaign-Urbana and several surrounding areas have set up some universal voting locations voters can go to regardless of their
home address. Several locations around campus are available for students and C-U residents to vote at. According to the Champaign County Clerk, some locations include the Activities and Recreation Center, the Illini Union, Parkland College and a few more.
In addition, universal locations are also open off campus but near the C-U area. For example, Lake of the Woods Elk’s Pavilion in Mahomet, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, The Gathering Place (First United Methodist Church) in Rantoul and Tolono Public Library in Tolono.
Church of the Living God 312 E. Bradley Ave., Champaign, Illinois 61820 Parkland College, Student Life Center 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, Ilinois 61821
Champaign Leonhard Recreation Center 2307 Sangamon Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61821
For Champaign County residents, an address lookup is also available for specific polling places in regards to a person’s address. Samantha is a senior in Media. sjboyle2@dailyillini.com
Champaign County Clerk’s Office GYMNASIUM 1776 E. Washington St., Urbana, Illinois 61802
Illini Union 1401 W. Green St., Urbana, Illinois 61801
Springfield Avenue
Urbana
Activities and Recreation 201 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820
University YMCA 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, Illinois 61821
Meadowbrook Community Church 1902 South Duncan Road, Champaign, Illinois 61822
CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI
The Daily Illini
Thursday, October 29, 2020
13
University students weigh in on importance of election BY ALLISON CONNELLY STAFF WRITER
With the upcoming election occurring during a worldwide pandemic, it seems as if the stakes are higher than ever before. Every single University student — especially our minority students — have been affected by this pandemic in one way or another. Students have been affected in ways ranging from the stress of remote learning and the move back home to worrying if they can afford groceries next week. Due to the elevated levels of uncertainty and uneasiness in our country, I decided to find out one thing: What does this election mean to the college students on our campus? Jordan Kahn, senior in Media, views the election as an important time to bring social issues to light as well as figure out ways to improve them. “It’s a fight for women to have autonomy over their own bodies, it’s a fight for LGBTQ+ rights, for Black lives, for the lives of immigrants, and so many more,” Kahn said. “This country is broken in so many fundamental ways,” Kahn said in regard to the current state of our country. “We need a period of healing, of reconciliation and of hope.” Kahn believes the election can be viewed as an opportunity to not only improve our country, but also restore it.
for the better,” Ramirez said. The way our environment has been handled in the past few decades, especially our approach to combating climate change, has been detrimental to our planet. Students like Ramirez hope this upcoming election will give us a chance to undo the past negligence to our environment. In addition, Ramirez expressed her concerns about the role of COVID-19 in the upcoming election. “I have experienced firsthand how hard it can be for people to find support and strength in these times, especially over the quarantine period in Illinois,” Ramirez said. “So many are struggling, and I know having a presidential election during a global pandemic will affect many people’s vote.” Ramirez also mentioned how the economy has been heavily impacted by this pandemic. Economic and tax plans are imperative now more than ever, and that is why it is so imporBRIGIDA DOCKUS THE DAILY ILLINI tant to do research on specific candidates. Voters enter the early voting location located in the ARC on Friday. Students share their views on No matter who you decide to vote for this the importance of the 2020 Presidential Election. election, remember to keep future generations in mind when entering that polling booth Isabella Ramirez, freshman in Media, people believe it to be, so if we vote for people on Nov. 3. believes the fate of our environment depends in office who take care of the environment and on the upcoming election. actually pay attention to what scientists are Allison is a senior in LAS. “I feel as if this is a bigger issue than some saying, this will help our country and planet aconne5@dailyillini.com
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RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI
A Champaign County ballot drop box sits outside the Illini Union on Oct. 4. The amount of mail-in ballots sent in this election due to COVID-19 may cause delays in election results.
Expect election results after night of Nov. 3 COVID-19, mail-in ballot quantities may potentially cause delays in election results BY SAMANTHA ROBERSON MANAGING EDITOR FOR ONLINE
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost every aspect of our lives, including how we vote. Many voters turned to mail-in ballots this year to avoid packed polling places, which will in turn affect how votes are counted. Absentee
voting rates for the 2020 election will range from 50-70% nationwide, which is over a 25% increase from the 2016 election, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In the past, Americans typically voted on Election Day and knew the results later that night. This year, the counting process can take weeks for some states. Half of all states will accept absentee ballots if their postmark indicates the ballot was mailed before Nov. 3. In addition, 30 states will allow voters to correct errors in their ballots that would usually lead to them being rejected. This year, Americans can plan to know election results soon before they become official.
Some states are planning to report results from ballots cast on Election Day and update results after absentee ballots are counted. On the other hand, some states are planning to report results from absentee ballots received before Election Day in addition to ballots cast on the day itself. Illinois will begin counting mail-in ballots at 7 p.m. on Election Day. Some swing states, such as Georgia, Wisconsin and North Carolina, cannot count mail-in ballots until after the polls close Election Day, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Since every state has its own policy, we might see something similar to what happened in the primaries in mid-March. On average, it took four
days for results to be reported, while states such as Georgia took 10 days, according to an analysis done by The Washington Post. Many people have questioned the validity of mail-in ballots, though there hasn’t been any evidence that confirms this theory. Mail-in ballots do, however, take a longer time to be counted, as they have to be reviewed by election officials to assure their validity. In short, election results will likely not be ready the night of Nov. 3, so get some sleep election night. Samantha is a junior in Media. sdr4@dailyillini.com
The Daily Illini
Thursday, October 29, 2020
15
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSE M. OSORIO/CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Willie Wilson departs a news conference at the Thompson Center in Chicago on May 12. Wilson is running as an independent under the Willie Wilson Party.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES
Rep. Rodney Davis speaks during a hearing before the House Administration Committee on Jan. 9 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. davis is running as a republican.
Candidates’s graduated income taxes appear on ballot BY JJ KIM
• Quick Fact: Who’s on the ballot? Here is a brief over- Carroll’s three priorities if elected would be view of what voters registered in Champaign- “climate protection, health care for all and Urbana will see on their ballot. protection of life from conception to natural death” according to his Ballotpedia canIllinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax didate survey. Amendment (Illinois Fair Tax) • Howie Hawkins The Illinois Allow for Graduated Income Tax Green Party Amendment would repeal the state’s consti- Angela Nicole Walker (Running mate) tutional requirement that the state’s personal Quick Facts: income tax is a flat rate across all incomes. Total Campaign Receipts: $463,084.18 This ballot measure would pave the way for Total Campaign Disbursements: $441,536.69 a graduated income tax, which means there • Jo Jorgensen would be different income tax rates applied Libertarian Party to different levels of income. Spike Cohen (Running mate) All financial figures are from the Federal Quick Facts: Election Commission’s website. Total Campaign Receipts: $2,944,056.70 Total Campaign Disbursements: President of the United States $2,771,493.21 • Gloria La Riva Donald Trump (Incumbent) Party for Socialism and Liberation Republican Party Leonard Peltier (Running mate) Mike Pence (Running mate) Quick Facts: Quick Facts: Total Campaign Receipts: $27,720.48 Total Campaign Receipts: $533,843,893.29 Total Campaign Disbursements: $26,941.26 Total Campaign Disbursements: $509,522,429.75 • Joe Biden U.S. Senate Illinois Democratic Party Kamala D. Harris (Running mate) 1. Dick Durbin (Incumbent) Quick Facts: Democratic Party Total Campaign Receipts: $952,239,369.70 Quick Fact: Total Campaign Disbursements: U.S. senator of Illinois since 1997 $790,193,382.80 • Mark Curran • Brian T. Carroll Republican Party American Solidarity Party Quick Fact: Amar Patel (Running mate) Curran’s stance on abortion, “I am proud EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
to be pro-life—a conviction that is rooted in my Catholic faith.” According to his response to Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection. • David Black Green Party Quick Fact: Black spent 37 years practicing law in Northern Illinois representing autoworkers in their everyday legal needs according to his website. • Danny Malouf Libertarian Party Quick Fact: Malouf is a 32-year-old human resources manager and volunteer youth wrestling coach. • Willie Wilson Willie Wilson Party Quick Fact: Wilson was a candidate for mayor of Chicago in 2019 but lost. U.S. House Illinois District 13 1. Rodney Davis (Incumbent) Republican Party Quick Fact: Total Receipts: $4,473,746.80 Total Disbursements: $3,261,102.56 • Betsy Londrigan Democratic Party Total Receipts: $4,657,202.83 Total Disbursements: $4,161,641.32 Illinois State Senate District 52
1. Scott M. Bennett (Incumbent) Democratic Party Quick Facts: Bennett has been a member of the Illinois State Senate since 2015 and is the chair of the Illinois State Senate’s Agriculture Committee. 1. Alexander Ruggieri Republican Party Quick Fact: Ruggieri says he’s against the proposed graduated state income tax according to Illinois Newsroom. Illinois House of Representatives District 103 1. Carol Ammons (Incumbent) Democratic Party Quick Facts: State Rep. Carol Ammons assumed office in 2015 and was appointed to the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices Final Report Implementation Task Force on July 15, 2020. • Brad Bielert Libertarian Party Quick Fact: Bielert was born and raised in Champaign and opened a mechanics business out of his home, according to his website. JJ is a junior Media. jjk7@dailyillini.com
Thursday, October 29, 2020
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