Posted on 11/01/2011 10:03:50 PM PDT by Steelers6
Online voting have begun. You can use the button below to view the ballot. Voting ends at 7PM CT on November 5, 2011. Voting open to Illinois residents only. Minimum donation of $5 required. For complete rules and information contact the Illinois Republican Party (email at info@ilgop.org) or visit FAQ.
To vote in person on Saturday Nov. 5th click here
2012 ILLINOIS PRE-PRESIDENTIAL STRAW POLL FAQ
Who is running the 2012 Illinois Pre-Presidential Straw Poll?
The 2012 Illinois Presidential Straw Poll is being conducted by the Illinois Republican Party ("IRP"). The online portion of the straw poll is powered by eVoter.com. In person voting will also be available at County GOP locations throughout Illinois on November 5, 2011.
What are the times of the Straw Poll?
Online voting will be open from 9 am CT on October 29, 2011, through 7 pm CT on November 5, 2011. In person voting will be open on November 5, 2011 (opening times will vary by county, but will close no later than 7 pm).
Are there separate results for online and in person voting?
No. The official winner of the straw poll will be the winner of the combined results.
How much does it cost to vote?
Both online and in person voting require a $5 contribution to the IRP. Of course, larger contributions are welcome and appreciated.
Why must I make a contribution in order to vote?
For two reasons. First, to help defray the costs of running the straw poll. Second, Illinois does not have party registration. The IRP believes that requiring a small contribution will help limit the straw poll to committed Republicans who are legally qualified to vote.
The amount we are charging is far less than other state party straw polls. For example, the Iowa Straw Poll charged $30 to participate.
Will the IRP receive my contribution details?
Yes. Federal Election Law requires that we receive the personal information details of all contributors. Please note, however, that the credit card details for online contributions will not be accessible by the IRP or eVoter. Federal Election Law requires political committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 per election cycle. Contributors must confirm that the following statements are true and accurate: 1) I am a citizen or permanent resident in the United States; 2) I affirm that I am making this contribution via personal/corporate credit or debit card for which I have a legal obligation to pay PAC FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. CONTRIBUTIONS CANNOT BE DEDUCTED AS A CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION FOR FEDERAL TAX PURPOSES.
Am I limited to how many times I can vote?
In person voters may vote only once. However, for online voting, the same credit card can be used for multiple transactions in order to facilitate voting in households where there may be only one credit card, but more than one voter (a husband and wife, for instance). Please note that the IRP reserves the right to qualify the results if it appears that an abuse of multiple voting has affected the results (i.e. by announcing a winner if multiple voting is not taken into account). This will only be done if it is clear that there has been an attempt to manipulate the straw poll (by automated submissions, for example) and the appropriate disclosures will be made.
Will the IRP know how I voted?
No. eVoter will not disclose how individuals voted to the IRP and will purge its database of this information at the conclusion of the straw poll. eVoter will release aggregate statistical data (i.e. such as a county breakdown of contributions and results) to the IRP. In person voting is by secret ballot.
Who is on the ballot?
All of the announced Pre-Presidential candidates for the Republican nomination who meet the following criteria. The requirements were: (a) Registered with the FEC as a Pre-Presidential exploratory committee or Pre-Presidential campaign (b) Meet all US Constitutional requirements (c) Garnered at least an average of one percent in five national polls based on most recent polling
What is their order on the ballot?
Alphabetical by last name.
Where did the information in their profiles come from?
All candidates on the ballot are invited to fill in their profiles. The IRP and eVoter is not responsible for candidate content. The candidate profiles are the property of the respective candidate and their respective committees control their content. Neither the IRP nor eVoter is soliciting contributions for any candidate.
Why do some candidates not have profiles?
Because they have not responded to the IRP's invitation, although we hope that they will engage with Illinois Republicans who are interested in them.
We are an organization. How do we participate?
Any organization which has a PAC registered with the FEC may sign up to show their endorsement in the straw poll. The charges are $100 for local organizations and $1,000 for statewide organizations. These charges are not contributions to the IRP, but are paid to eVoter. Organizations that create profiles for the straw poll will be entitled to keep their profiles live on eVoter's site in Illinois for the entire 2012 election cycle (and show their endorsements on the actual 2012 IL primary and general election ballots). Click here to sign up or email info@evoter.com.
Who should I contact for more information?
The Illinois Republican Party. Info@ilgop.org (312) 201-9000
When will the results be announced or posted?
The results will be released on Nov. 5 after 7pm when the voting closes. Further further details will be announced as we approach the final day of voting.
PAID FOR BY THE ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE.
That's when I march into the polling place and they ask me which ballot I want, without having to say I'm either a republican or democrat, it doesn't matter, I can have either one I want at the moment.
Wanna see my Id.? Nah we don't need no steenkin' Id.
Illinois republican primary voters will go for Romney.
I didn’t know Illinois still allowed voting.
I was a bit harsh in my previous post friend. What section of the state do you live in? I’m in central Illinois, near Pekin.
I have no use at all for the Illinois Republican Party, they bombard one of my email inbox constantly, begging for money, I leave them unblocked, it’s a junk account anyway.
I hold them responsible for the election of Obama to the U.S. Senate, among other things.
On the one hand, I don't trust the state party one bit as its filled with combiners and RINOs -- plus "online voting" makes it easy for them to stack the deck in their favor (I have no doubt the Romney loving GOP establishment will be voting in this "poll"), and they force you to donate $5 to the state GOP, which they will probably spend on RINOs. Plus I'm worry if I give these guy a cent they will bombard me with phone calls and emails to "thank" me for my "past support of the Illinois Republican Party" and beg me for more money (even if I don't give out my email or phone number during voting, they always get their hands on it) That scumbag Mark Kirk is promoting this event. Also, as Phil Collins noted, they don't even list all the candidates running and won't let you vote on minor candidates like Buddy Roemer.
On the other hand, if we wait around until the actual, binding primary date (it's going back to late March now that the Dems no longer need Illinois to be part of Super Tuesday to help Obama), it's almost certain our vote won't count for anything because the GOP nominee will already have been decided by then. Many of our favs will probably drop out before Illinois even gets to vote (even last time around with our Feb. 2, we were down to Huckabee, McCain, Romney, and I guess you could count Ron Paul) as our choices. This might be our only chance to vote for our favorite major candidates. The more conservative that vote, the less the IL GOP can claim that Illinois Republicans like "moderates". Some conservatives have said if you don't vote in the straw poll, don't whine the next time they shove a RINO down our throats. I can spare $5, even though I'm employed part-time this makes the Illinois straw poll much cheaper than straw polls held in early primary states like the Iowa GOP charging $30 to participating in the Ames straw poll (even though the results are non-binding like the IL GOP straw poll)
What's the word, Illinois freepers?
If we believe the organization is corrupt, and to that degree illegitimate, I see no good giving them $5 worth of credibility.
Let Romney get 99.44% of the vote, that will show how believable such a poll is. I like Cain, but that straw poll he won with 82% doesn’t count for much.
I'll vote for Cain when it's primary day.
I don’t agree that the nominee will be chosen before the Illinois primary, since there are so many candidates who live in different states. Here is a list of some of the first primaries and caucuses:
Tuesday, 3 January 2012, Iowa Caucus; Tuesday, 10 January 2012, New Hampshire Primary; Saturday 21 January 2012, Nevada Non-binding Precinct Viability Caucuses (tentative date); Tuesday, 24 January 2012, Louisiana District Caucuses (tentative date) & West Virginia County Republican Conventions (tentative date); Saturday, 28 January 2012, South Carolina Party Primary (tentative date); Tuesday, 31 January 2012, Florida Primary; Saturday, 4 February - Saturday 11 February 2012, Maine Municipal Caucuses / non-binding straw poll; Saturday, 4 February 2012, Nevada Precinct Caucuses (tentative date)
Since Iowa borders Minnesota, Rep. Bachammn will win IA. Since New Hamphire borders Mass., Gov. Romney will win NH. Since Utah borders Nevada, Gov. Huntsman will win NV. Since Gov. Roemer is from Louisiana, he’ll win that state. Since Penn. borders West Virginia, Sen. Santorum will win WV. Since Georgia borders Florida and Alabama, Rep. Gingrich and/or Mr. Cain will win FL & AL. When IL votes, the majority of the current candidates will have strong campaigns.
Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson lost their home states in 2008. Ron Paul lost Texas, and I believe both Rick Perry and Ron Paul will not win Texas in 2012. Romney barely got a majority of Massachuttes Republicans to support him for President in 2008, he won 51% of MA primary voters. In 2004, Kuncinich lost Ohio, Wesley Clark lost Arkansas, Dick Gephart lost Missouri, and so on. In 2000, Alan Keyes lost Maryland, Orrin Hatch lost Utah, and Steve Forbes & Bill Bradley lost their home state of New Jersey.
Illinois got a chance to weigh in the nominee in 2008 because our primary was held on Super Tuesday, early in February. But when Illinois has voted in late March, the nominee is almost always choosen before our state votes. In 2000, I believe McCain had "suspended" his campaign before Illinois voted... Keyes was still running but Bush was way ahead in delegates and the presumed nominee. In 1996, I believe everyone had dropped out besides Dole and Buchanan by the time Illinois voted. In 1992, the choices in the Democrat primary were down to Clinton, Tsongus, and Brown by the time Illinois voted, and Tsongus dropped out shortly afterwards. In 1988, I think Bush, Dole, and Robertson were still running by the time Illinois voted, but Bush was already the front runner by a wide margin of delegates and presumed to be the nominee. And so on and so forth.
Can't see a scenario where a multitude of candidates win delegates in the early primary states. In 2008, people thought we could end up with a deadlocked convention where Huckabee won Iowa, McCain won New Hampshire, Romney won Michigan, Ron Paul won Nevada, Fred Thompson won South Carolina, and Giuliani won Florida. Instead, only McCain, Huckabee, and Romney won any states.
The Illinois GOP is a lost cause and won't get $5 from me. I don't think the Republican Renaissance PAC, Champion News, et al have the horse power to demolish the old GOP guard and get Conservatives in positions that matter.
Welcome to Madiganistan. I'm keeping my $5 to help pay for my 67% income tax increase, thank you.
Rudy Giuliani dropped out before the New York primary. That primary was in Feb., and he dropped out in Jan.
I think it probably will be over on Super Tuesday. It usually is. Last time I thought it could go to the convention, didn’t happen.
Candidates just don’t win states cause they are from neighboring states. Last time McCain won every state that borders Massachusetts, not Romney.
I know you support him but Roemer’s campaign barley exists. It barley exists by his own choice not to raise money. He hasn’t been on a ballot in Louisiana since 1995. He’s not going to win Louisiana. He’s not gonna be a factor in Louisiana or in any other state, he’ll be lucky to get on the ballots. I think he’s off his rocker defending the occupy wall street movement. He’s seems to just be running as a protest against special interest money in politics.
Santorum’s campaign has gone nowhere, he can’t win West Virginia. A poll a couple months ago had him polling 12% in his own state of Pennsylvania.
Huntsman won’t even win Utah, Romney will.
The latest poll in Texas has Cain ahead of Perry in that state.
As for this straw poll? Well, I need the $5 so I won’t be voting in it. I’d probably go ahead and vote in it if my financial situation was better. Ultimately the results probably won’t matter that much.
I say what's the effin' point of voting in this state anyway? The candidates I want never win, and there's ten liberal dumb-asses in Chicago that counter my one single vote every damn' election.
Screw voting, I want to know when we pick up our rifles and pitchforks and clean out Springfield. Call me when the party starts.
As it stands now, Huntsman won't win Utah (and probably STILL wouldn't win even if he had ACTUAL supporters instead of the 1% he's polling). Roemer isn't doing any better in Louisiana than he is anywhere else in the country. He may have been elected Governor there once, over 20 years ago, but the last time he was on the ballot he managed to lose to David Duke so it's not surprising he doesn't have much pull left in his home state. Perry has fallen to around 5th place now (although it's could be said he's in a 3-way tie for 4th with Bachmann and Ron Paul). If the election was held today, he'd probably lose Texas. Of course, he could still recover enough to eek out a win there by the time his state votes, but Perry's past campaigns have shown the only reason he's a "proven winner" in Texas was because he was fortunate enough to have opponents even worse than him. (too bad the Perrybots are in a state of denial about this and can't figure out why their guy is tanking in their home state) Even with the weak field we have now, Texas voters have better options than Perry and are responding accordingly.
Bachmann won't win Minnesota (although if delegates are appointed by district, I'm pretty sure she'll win her own CD), and Santorum won't win Pennsylvania.
I actually HOPE I'm wrong on the latter two -- Santorum is a good guy and I hate that he's embarrassing himself with a Presidential run (he's actually managed to become my number #2 choice, simply because everyone decent dropped out or didn't run), and Bachmann had real potential until the Perry distraction sucked all the air out of the room for a month.
Anything can happen when the actual primaries start... too bad the freepers who were convinced it was a "two way race" between Fred and Rudy, and Fred Thompson was a shoo-in in for conservatives in '08 didn't learn their lesson and belived it was a "two way race" this time around between Romney and Perry for 2012, and that Perry had conservative voters in the bag. Maybe the third time around they'll finally figure out that early polls held monthes before the primaries mean nothing. One can hope. But I agree that Super Tuesday will pretty much finish off the primary and other 30+ states will be left to cast token protest votes for candidates that dropped out.
USconservative also makes a good point that in Illinois, pretty much whatever the Chicago machine wants will decide what direction the state as a whole goes. These Perrybots who keep yapping about "states rights" and "liberty for Americans" don't have a clue what it's like in the other 49. In Illinois, the only thing "empowering" state government does is give Chicago more opportunity for corruption and nepotism. The ironic thing is Obama and the rest of the Chicago machine RATs were no different than Perry when they were in state government and the GOP ran the federal government. They were all for "standing up to the feds" back then and thumbing their nose as national authorities. Strange how the Perrybots seem to have forgotten that little historical fact and insist RAT politicians at the state level believe in being meekly subservient to the feds. Maybe they missed all those resolutions by wacky state and local RAT goverments to spend zillions on embroynic stem cell research, enact gay marriage, passing "anti-war" resolutions and urging Congress to impeach Bush for "war crimes"? I sure haven't forgotten.
Oops. Forgot to ping you on #15.
As they say, the "proof is in the pudding" ... given Pat Quinn won the Governor's race by winning only two counties outright, C(r)ook County being one (Chicago, immediate suburbs), and St. Clair County (East St. Louis) being the other, it's all the proof you need. The majority of the State's population resides in these two counties alone.
Talk about wag the dog!
But on election day, all these Quinn signs spouted up overnite at every polling place and endless DemonRAT voters I had never seen before in my life, showed up at the polls and demanded the option for "punich cards" to vote "straight Democrat" even though we did away with punch cards 8 years ago (guess these "voters" must have missed that). One black "suburban voter" (with city of Chicago car stickers) that we couldn't find in the rolls ADMITTED the last time he had voted had been for Al Gore a decade earlier. And of course, election judges don't require ID to vote. Guess which candidate carried my township? Quinn.
To add insult to injury, Mark Kirk's fan club simply dismissed it by saying "the polls were wrong" and that Brady voters should have "worked harder", even though HIS "people" never set foot in any part of Crook County he didn't already represent when the tea party and the rest of us were working like hell to GOTV for Brady throughout suburban Cook County.
I'm through with this state. F the combine and F the RINO infested GOP who supports them.
Gov. Quinn won four counties. He won partly because of the Libertarian, Lex Green. Quinn beat Brady by about 20,000 votes, and Green got about 34,000 votes. If Green didn’t run, the majority of his supporters would have voted for Brady, and Brady would have won.
I would blame “Independent” Scott Lee Cohen more than Lex Green. Most of us didn’t see the threat coming until it was too late. Everyone assumed Cohen would take more votes than Quinn instead of Brady because Cohen is a Chicago RAT, but Cohen ran as an “independent reformer” and a bunch of stupid “conservative” combiners like Jim Tobin were touting Cohen’s promise not to raise taxes and bashing Brady (by the way, according to Tobin’s OWN scorecard, Brady has the second HIGHEST “pro-taxpayer” score in the entire state Senate, yet Tobin ran anti-Brady ads in the Governor’s race. Hmmm. ). He got 135,705 votes, which was higher than Lex Green. Pretty much all of Cohen’s votes were ignorant, uniformed swing voters who were upset with the current Illinois government (Quinn & the RATs) and wanted to “reform” Government, but were hesitant to vote GOP. They probably would have held their nose for Brady if that idiot Cohen hadn’t been in the race. In fact, the ONLY poll that showed Quinn tied with Brady had Cohen at a ridiculously high 14%. All the other polls showed Brady ahead by 6-12% (which gave Brady a clear lead above the margin of error)
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