Changing parties when you vote Feb. 2

Here is some information from a reader that may help you on (or before) February 2. I've been asked if you can change parties when you vote in a primary election. As you may know, you'll be greeted with the question, "Which party's ballot do you want?"

The poll worker is not being nosy. In Illinois you must declare which party's ballot you want, and you will only be able to vote that party's ballot. It's a rotten way to do business but, after all, this is Illinois.

Here's what the reader offers:

"You can take ANY BALLOT YOU WANT. This issue comes up in very contentious races. It is a little Cook County trick. Some judges will tell you that you have to formally change parties by writing a letter to the county clerk before you can change parties.

"This happened to some people I know that were Dems and wanted a Rep ballot to vote for Lou (Bianchi). They thought they could not vote. I called the County Clerk and told her she needed to give the judges strict instruction about that. I am afraid this could happen in this race."

The reader is concerned that this could happen in the upcoming primary election. If polling place workers favor a certain party, they must not allow that to influence their work or any voter. They must park their favoritism in the parking lot!

If you ask for a ballot and get any resistance whatsoever, call 815-334-4242 and report it immediately. If you are a registered voter and have photo ID to prove who you are, you are entitled to vote. Once. This is not Cook County, where "Vote Early & Vote Often" might be popular.

And don't leave until you have voted, especially if you are close to the 7:00PM cut-off. If you are in the door, you get to vote. If you leave and come back to find the door closed, you are out of luck.

The reader concluded with, "Get the word out, so people do not get fooled."