SPRINGFIELD – With the help of 15 Republican House members, Illinois dramatically stepped back Tuesday in Springfield from the Democrats' effort to set the path for non-citizens to register to vote.
In May, those same 15 lawmakers went along with the Democrats' plan for automatic voter registration, but changed their positions after Republican Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed the legislation.
State Senator Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods set out his concerns about the proposal after the Illinois Senate voted to override the governor's veto, saying the legislation was problematic.
“Under this proposal, non-citizens will be automatically registered to vote and then perhaps later removed from the rolls. If a non-citizen is registered and the state fails to remove that person in a timely fashion, they will get a voter card in the mail and likely believe they can legally vote. And if they do vote, they will be committing a felony," he said.
Tuesday, the attempt to override Governor Rauner's veto in the Illinois House failed by four votes, gathering only 67 "yes" votes of the needed 71, stopping the effort's move forward.
Two Democrat House members moved from "Yes" to "Not voting" – Anthony DeLuca and Sonya Harper.
Thirteen Republican House members that moved from "yes" votes in May to "no" votes this week were: Bennett, Bryant, Davidsmeyer, Demmer, Hammond, Hays, Jimenez, McAuliffe, Moffitt, Pritchard, Sullivan, Tryon and Unes. Two GOP members – Barbara Wheeler and Keith Wheeler – moved from "Not voting" to "Nos."
