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Home » E-newsletter » Archives » October 15, 2003
October 15, 2003 ACLU of Illinois E-News 10.15.03 ACLU Agreements Spell End to Failed Punch Card Voting System in Illinois A series of agreements between the ACLU of Illinois and voting jurisdictions from across Illinois should insure the end use of the flawed punch card ballot system in the State of Illinois. The agreements filed last week in federal court commit election officials in the specific voting districts to taking immediate steps toward scrapping the punch card ballot system in favor of newer, more accurate and reliable technology in time for the statewide primary election in March 2006. The agreements resolve lawsuits filed in the wake of the 2000 general election in which more 120,000 votes for President in Cook County were not counted, more than six percent (6%) of all ballots cast in the election. You can learn more about the election by going to our website. Chicago City Council Calls on Congress to Reconsider Provisions of the USA Patriot Act On October 1st, the Chicago City Council became the most populous community to adopt a resolution calling on Congress to reconsider provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act. Chicago now joins more than 175 communities, representing more than 24 million persons, across the nation that have raised concerns about the intrusive actions of the Bush Administration. You can read more about the ACLU of Illinois response to this development by going to our website at www.aclu-il.org. A Great Discussuion About Homeland Security Chicago's Victory Garden Theater is preparing to stage a new production titled, Homeland Security. The play, written by local author Stuart Flack, the play is described as "a contemporary drama about a second generation Indian doctor and his American girlfriend, who are detained for questioning at O'Hare after returning from a vacation overseas. Post 9/11 paranoia. The emotional and social costs of unrestricted access to personal information. The meaning of patriot. These are just a few of today's hot-button issues brought forth in Homeland Security." In conjunction with the play, Victory Gardens Theater will be hosting a special discussion on the post-9/11 issues. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, November 12th, will feature Harvey Grossman, Legal Director of the ACLU of Illinois. You can learn more about the free event by going here. Victory Gardens also is offering a special with $5 off for tickets for play to supporters and members of the ACLU of Illinois. If you want more information, please email us at acluofillinois@aclu-il.org. ACLU Says White House Pushing Patriot II in Congress Late last week, a new report by the National ACLU made clear that the Bush Administration is trying to pass the so-called Patriot Act II, the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003, by separating pieces and moving the legislation in a piecemeal fashion. You can read more about the ACLU's analysis and access the full report by going here. |
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