Prairie State Wire

While election Day is Nov. 8, mail-in voting has already started. 

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy noted with mail-in ballots being accepted, the start of the November election voting process has begun.

“In case you didn't know, (Sept. 29) marked the first day for mailing and delivery of vote by mail ballots!” Tracy said in his weekly memo. “In addition, early voting started on Sept. 29 across most of the state, the Chicago Board of Elections will open their two early voting sites on Oct. 7, and traditional early voting at permanent polling places will begin on Oct. 24. Check with your County Clerk or Local Election Authority and the Illinois State Board of Elections on voting locations and hours of operation. Whether it is vote by mail, early voting, or the traditional way of voting, we need everyone to vote and don't forget to remind a neighbor, friend, and family member to vote too." 

After a "divisive" primary race, Tracy called for the unification of the GOP. 

“In my travels across Illinois, I am energized to see the enthusiasm of Republicans pushing GOTV," he said. "I witnessed this excitement at our GOP Unity event in Peoria. After a divisive primary, Republicans are focused and united to help our candidates win in November. We had a great turnout in Peoria and I am so grateful to the following people for their support of this great event: Congressman Darin LaHood, Peoria County Chairman Chuck Weaver, Tazewell County Chairman Jim Rule, Leader Jim Durkin, Leader Dan McConchie, state Sen. Don Dewitte, state Sen. Win Stoller, state Rep. Ryan Spain, John Bearce, Jay and Nancy Harms, Marquis Energy, Bob and Karen Metzinger, Sally Owens, Ronald and Camilla Rabjohns, and Beth Akeson.”

Tracy has observed the Republican Party's emphasis on electoral integrity throughout the campaign season. Tracy said that election integrity is the Illinois GOP's top concern as the fall elections draw near, Prairie State Wire reported.

According to Vox, Democrats have maintained control of the state for decades through gerrymandering tactics that have rendered all but a handful of seats anti-competitive.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey said election integrity is a top concern for him as well. He said in a tweet that “Thousands of Illinoisans are concerned with the process, and we must work to improve and restore confidence in our elections moving forward.”

Political commentator John Lott said Illinois' permanent vote by mail program is open to fraud. In an interview with Prairie State Wire, he said vote by mail is outlawed in most Western countries. 

Lott said that it "will create potentials for fraud and for vote buying. But there is a reason why all the other countries in the world or most of them ban absentee ballots, let alone types of mail-in ballots. You look at Europe, for example, as the 47 countries in Europe, 35 of the 47 countries banned absentee ballots for people living in the country. And the reason why they do and then there is another 10 that allow absentee ballots, but they limit it to – they will not send it in the mail. You have to go in person to pick up the absentee ballot and you have to show a government-issued photo ID to be able to pick it up. So that's 45 of the 47 countries in Europe have that."