Thursday, September 18, 2008

Pols conning voters on Con-Con

Phil Kadner of the SouthTown discusses some language placed on the ballot regarding whether or not the state should host a constitutional convention. Here's the question agreed to by a joint state legislative committee...
"This proposal deals with a call for a state constitutional convention. The last such convention was held in 1969-1970, and a new constitution was adopted in 1970. The 1970 Illinois Constitution requires that the question of calling a convention be placed before the voters every 20 years. In 1988 the electors rejected the call for a constitutional convention, with 75 percent voting against calling a convention and 25 percent voting in favor of calling a convention. If you believe the 1970 Constitution needs to be revised through the convention process, vote 'Yes' on the question of calling a constitutional convention. If you believe that a constitutional convention is not necessary, vote 'No' on the calling of a constitutional convention."
The language here is supposed to be neutral and the Secretary of State's legal staff is currently reviewing the wording. There are calls by such officials at Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and State Rep. John Fritchey to create a more unbiased question on the ballot for voters in November.

The Capitol Fax blog has a round-up on the debate over whether or not Illinois should hold a con-con.

1 comment:

  1. For what it's worth, I got the mailer today. It includes that fact in the overall summary, but then the longer explanation section doesn't, it just talks about what a con-con does and how the vote works. I don't see that as horribly biased, perhaps just a bit.

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