Here's the latest info on the early voting dispute in Lake County, IN.
As I already reported, a circuit court judge ruled this morning that the Lake County, IN board of elections could commence early voting at three satellite polling places located in the Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago city clerk offices. The ruling opened up the possibility that the board might open these early voting centers as soon as tomorrow, despite telling District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen last Friday that they would wait until he had ruled on a temporary restraining order filed by the local Republican Party to block early voting in the three minority-rich, Democratic cities.
Now comes news that the Lake County board of elections has informed the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that they don't plan to begin early voting until at least Thursday, depending on Van Bokkelen's ruling (he's scheduled to take up the case this Thursday).
The plaintiffs in the circuit court case, along with SEIU, are planning a press conference tomorrow. But it's unclear at the moment what their next move is. On the one hand, they could simply wait for the district court hearing later this week. Another possibility: they could file yet another lawsuit in circuit court, this one directed at the Democratic-led board of elections.
More to come ...
UPDATE (6 pm): I'm hearing that the federal court has moved their hearing up from Thursday to tomorrow morning. So what could happen? Judge Van Bokkelen will either grant the GOP's temporary restraining order (thereby blocking the satellite polling places from opening), throw it out, or remand the case to the circuit court (where it apparently should have been in the first place).
UPDATE (9:15 am, 10/7): A clarification: Van Bokkelen apparently doesn't intend to rule on the case during today's hearing. Here also is the Post-Tribune's article on yesterday's developments. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs are holding a press conference at 1 pm at the Hammond City Clerk's office. More on that later.
(Full disclosure: Progress Illinois is sponsored by the SEIU Illinois State Council)
markg8 on Tue, 10/07/2008 - 07:22
So who appointed Van Bokkelen? Isn't it interesting that Republicans are all for states' rights until they need Republican appointed activist federal judges to rule in their favor.
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