Sample ballot pic from Chicago Cook County Dems twitter page. No Bernie.

[madfloridian]

I was just reading this stunning post about how that county sent out sample ballots without Bernie's name on it. Their response when asked why was that they endorsed Hillary.

So because they endorsed Hillary they left Bernie off the sample ballot.

Here is their twitter page:

https://twitter.com/cookcodems

Here is their image there of their sample ballot. Some are saying it's simply a flyer with their endorsements. If it is just a flyer then it should NOT say "Sample Ballot" at the top.



Proud enough of their unbelievable action to post it to their twitter page.

[thereismore]

1. "What did you dream? It's alright we told you what to dream!" nt

[onecaliberal]

2. This state party deserves the decimation coming their way.

[JimDandy]

34. It's the Cook County Democratic Party not the state party. Here is their endorsement link

on their web page:

http://cookcountydems.com/candidates.htm

[SCantiGOP]

79. conspiracy du jour

Except it is not 'du jour' since their is an insidious, horrible Karl Rove-worthy conspiracy targeting Sanders that is exposed on DU about every 2-3 minutes.

[Blue_Adept]

3. Unfortunately it seems to have generated little notice

They posted it to their Twitter on Feb 28, over ten days ago.

Only one response on Twitter at that.

Social media didn't get this changed.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. Why am I not surprised to see Madigan attached to it?

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. It's a flyer with their endorsements

I just voted in Illinois. Trust me, Bernie is on the ballot. This is a flyer listing the endorsements of the Cook County Democratic Organization. They endorsed Clinton. Notably, they also endorsed Kim Foxx (which is why Anita Alvarez's name isn't on the flyer).

We went over this at length in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1421295

It is very common in Illinois to provide sample ballots with the slate of endorsed candidates.

[madfloridian]

6. It SAYS sample ballot at the top of it.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. That's what we call them here

They are endorsement flyers.

Sorry you're not familiar with the concept. Nobody in Illinois thinks the actual ballot will really look like that. It's an endorsement flyer.

See http://www.cookcountydems.com/candidates.htm

[StandingInLeftField]

13. I see...sample ballot

Up is down, wrong is right. Certainly fits with the Camp Weathervane M.O.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. That's what we call them

[StandingInLeftField]

23. I know you have nothing to do with this a_m

It's just frustrating, you know?

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. It's an ad: the Cook County Democrats endorsed a slate of candidates

This is an ad informing people of those endorsements. In Illinois, you will often get such a list from your local Dem org, even down to the ward level, and they're usually called "sample ballots." I can see how somebody might be confused by that, since the ballot would look different, but really, these are not new. "Sample Ballot" endorsement flyers have been around for years. It's funny to me to see people freaking out over them. They're common documents.

[Raster]

109. Actually, they should be forced to admit on the advertisement that this "SAMPLE BALLOT"

...not really a Democratic Party Primary Sample Ballot, but an *ADVERTISEMENT*, and should not be construed as an actual sample ballot.

And I would not be surprised that at the next primary election cycle, someone does not get an injunction to deal with their "advertisement."

[PeaceNikki]

112. The word "sample" indicates it's not an official ballot.

[alcibiades_mystery]

115. An injunction!

OK.

Again, these are common documents in Illinois elections.

[Vinca]

81. It should say biased sample ballot.

[alcibiades_mystery]

117. Endorsements usually are biased toward the endorsees

And against those not endorsed.

[polly7]

7. Why wasn't Sanders' name included on it? nt.

[madfloridian]

11. If it says sample ballot, Bernie's name should be on it.

[alcibiades_mystery]

14. Well, that's not how we do things here

Sample Ballot does not mean the same thing here .

I've been getting these for years, by the way. It's pretty standard practice.

[platitudipus]

73. It must be a regional thing.

Where I come from we call it deceitful advertising. Some parts of the country call soft drinks, 'soda' and other parts call them 'pop'.

[alcibiades_mystery]

75. They've been called "Sample Ballots" as long as I can recall

Don't know what else to tell you. This isn't the first time, nor is it just this flyer. I also received a "Sample Ballot" with endorsements from my local ward organization. My wife and I were laughing because our Ward Sample Ballot endorses Anita Alvarez while the Cook County Dems endorse Kim Foxx.

[Kittycat]

78. Here we play crappy politics

It's all about the money machine in IL. We don't send our governors off to prison, put our state in perpetual gridlock, or sit back while they raid the pension program for nothing. We like to be told exactly who they're paying to do it. So of course they would endorse Hillary. Perfect fit. Given the current state of our state, I would take that sample ballot, and vote for any 2nd tier Dem not recommended by Madigan at this moment.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. Because the Cook County Democratic Organization didn't endorse Sanders

It also didn't endorse Anita Alvarez, and her name is off the flyer. Indeed, wherever you see a star, it's a contested race and the non-endorsees are not listed.

I'm sorry some of you have a different understanding of "Sample Ballot." In Illinois, when you get a "Sample Ballot" flyer, it's an endorsement flyer that you can bring into the booth to know who your local organization endorsed in the races.

[polly7]

19. Well Sanders is a pretty big deal.

Excluding him is kinda sleazy and tricky, imho.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. It's an endorsement flyer: they also didn't endorse Anita Alvarez, who also doesn't appear

[StandingInLeftField]

20. Do you have to be born in IL to know this?

Is it taught in the school system? Perhaps you get an explanation in your welcome packet when you move to the state and register?

Oh, wait! This is CHICAGO we're talking about! Never mind....

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. Sample Ballot ads are common election ads

When you walk into the actual booth in Illinois, you see all the names of the candidates. I should know: I just voted not 30 minutes ago.

[FSogol]

49. +1. Don't people vote? Sample ballots are pretty common.

[Dragonfli]

30. Rahm Emanuel territory /nt

[frazzled]

87. Toni Preckwinkle runs Cook County

She is the elected President of the Cook County Board.

[alcibiades_mystery]

96. That's correct. The Kim Foxx endorsement is clearly from Preckwinkle; Rahm's people want Alvarez

[Dragonfli]

118. Chicago is in which county again? /nt

[frazzled]

121. It's in Cook County, but Cook County is much vaster

While the population of Chicago proper is 2.6 million, Cook County embraces 5.25 million people, across 946 square miles. It has its own government, which is the 19th largest government in the country--so, larger and more complex than 32 of our country's State governments. The Cook County Democrats organization is much larger than the city of Chicago itself.

[PeaceNikki]

54. It's a political ad. Is this your first election?

[greatauntoftriplets]

51. You're absolutely correct.

I voted last week in suburban Cook County and all of the Democratic presidential candidates were on the ballot. Whenever I get one of these flyers, I toss it. Usually use the IVI/IPO recommendations on those lengthy judicial ballots.

[alcibiades_mystery]

52. I voted a few hours ago Chicago North Side.

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. I used to live in Edgewater.

Been in the near western suburbs for almost 10 years now, but still miss the North Side. Parking out here is better.

[whatchamacallit]

8. Dem Approved!

fap fap

[yourpaljoey]

9. Dirty tricks!

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Bernie Sanders is on the Illinois ballot. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

18. It's really amazing

Every one of the contested races excludes the non-endorsees.

[Cali_Democrat]

46. I like the flyer in the OP.

It's really well done!

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. I got it in the mail February 26

Early voting started February 29. I got my Ward org sample ballot yesterday and voted today. It's a well-oiled, well, machine.

[scscholar]

97. Do you have evidence?

The OP posted evidence that that isn't true.

[HubertHeaver]

17. The Crook County Democrats are backing Hillary. No one else exists.

It is less heavy-handed than it has been in the past.

[alcibiades_mystery]

21. They're also backing Kim Foxx over Anita Alvarez

They are backing circuit judges over other circuit judges for all the starred races (listed as "contested races&quot .

These are pretty standard issue ads for elections in Illinois, allowed explicitly by state law.

[HubertHeaver]

32. I lived in Lee and Dekalb counties and always watched Chicago politics.

It was at once fascinating and horrifying.

[Kittycat]

88. Agreed, however

Not all county dems handle it like this. Some are courteous enough to list all candidates. But where an endorsement may be granted, that individual will have an identifier (star and bold, typically). In races where party affiliation doesn't apply, they only list the endorsed in that case. It usually helps people know who is dem friendly.

[alcibiades_mystery]

89. I will say I was a little surprised to see these in this particular primary

Given its contentiousness: and not only top of the ticket. The Alvarez-Foxx election is very big here, as it is tied up intimately with the policing issues and the MacDonald case in particular. Sometimes a local org. won't endorse when it is that contentious. In this case, they did, and listed only the endorsed candidates. That's certainly a debatable thing to do, but it is not in the least bit improper. People are acting like this is some kind of dirty politics. It's pretty standard fare.

[Kittycat]

93. This one came off more as an ad though.

There's another one Floating around, from the 13th, I think. I haven't seen one look like a physical ballot yet. I'm on the outskirts, and we have received actual sample ballots from the county in the past. They don't do it any more, but if someone was accustomed to that, I can definitely see where that would throw a person.

And it's just dirty politics from an IL standpoint. Don't we have enough crap going on? Just lost the endorsements, but out the other candidates on the form. Especially if it's coming from the county group.

[alcibiades_mystery]

95. I saw one that looks physically like a ballot (but we're mostly touchscreen here now, I think)

Agree that it's shitty, but people understand it's an ad, for the most part. You can't *do* anything with it anyway.

[auntpurl]

25. Do you not get these flyers where you live?

Geez, I got them all the time in Pennsylvania. It's not like you'd carry them into the voting booth and vote with them. It's just election crap that is stuffed through your door morning through night during election season.

I really think this is a non-issue. I guarantee you Bernie Sanders will be on all real, "legal tender" ballots in all 50 states.

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. In Illinois you're explicitly allowed by law to bring them into the booth

In fact, I just did, with the very sample ballot pictured in the OP. I mean, I'm supposed to remember all these circuit judges?

[StandingInLeftField]

31. Well, I think you're only supposed to remember the circuit judges

approved by the party...

[auntpurl]

37. Ha ha!

I just mean that you don't use the flyer as your actual ballot.

[StandingInLeftField]

124. Nope.

I've lived in GA, MA, NY, VA, and now SC and voted in all of them. I've seen "proposed slates" but I've never seen "sample ballot" as far as I know. In SC we can get a copy of the ACTUAL ballot to study after the primary season. I guess the Machines are a little more organized in certain states, although you would think I would have seen something like this in NY. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention at the time.

[MisterP]

27. all the city machines go for her, that there's nobody else

they need an environment where they can openly say, "vote for nothing, and be grateful for the chance to do so"

[Cheese Sandwich]

29. We got railroaded. Again.

[angstlessk]

33. Where is Bernies 'Sample' Ballot?

Nowhere you say?

[auntpurl]

38. I imagine whichever groups have endorsed Bernie would produce them

If you haven't seen many, that may be because not many groups have paid to have them produced?

[angstlessk]

39. Or maybe Bernie does not seek to trick voters?

Ever thought of that in your 'imaginings'?

[auntpurl]

40. But...it's not a trick.

It's clearly not a real ballot! Have you never received one of these flyers in election season? As I said above, I used to get them all the time in Pennsylvania. It's just part of the mass of flotsam through the letterbox every day.

You can't VOTE with this thing. When people go into the voting booth, I guarantee you Bernie's name will be on the ballot!

[angstlessk]

43. Sure, but they did not state it was a sample ballot

Well, it LOOKS like a real ballot!

[PeaceNikki]

47. lol - it looks like a political ad. Because it is a political ad.

[auntpurl]

48. It's ATTACHED to an ad!

How many real ballots have you seen that are attached to an election ad? I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be rude, but it does tickle me.

[progressoid]

83. When the GOP does it, it's bad. When the DNC does it, it's good.

Complaints filed in Colerain Township trustee election for fake sample ballots
Posted: Jan 19, 2016 4:36 PM CST


(Hamilton County Republican Party)

HAMILTON COUNTY, OH (FOX19) -

Insco's being accused of sending out fake sample ballots that called him an officially endorsed Republican.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rnc-distributes-oddly-deceptive-fundraising-mailer

[auntpurl]

86. First, I wouldn't complain if the GOP did this...

although the flyer you picture looks a hell of a lot more like a real ballot than the one posted in the OP.

And second, the flyer in the OP wasn't produced by the DNC. It was produced by the Cook County Democratic group. It was mailed to likely voters. It's not "legal tender" in a voting booth. This is really a nonissue and I'm surprised at how many people on DU think this is a new thing. I couldn't move for election crap coming through my door in Pennsylvania.

[OilemFirchen]

92. I have a sneaking suspicion that many of this thread's respondents have never voted.

In fact, if they've never received a similar "sample" ballot, I'd venture they've never even registered to vote.

They're very useful for off-year and down-ticket elections - local judges, treasurers, et al - especially when, as in Ohio, many of these positions are "non-partisan".

[progressoid]

100. True, it's not the DNC but an part of the party none-the-less.

On their website they say.

...proudly endorses and supports all Democratic candidates whether at the federal, state or local level. These candidates deserve our support, as they offer the best vision and policies for a brighter, more prosperous future for all.

http://www.cookcountydems.com/party.htm

It would seem that statement is bullshit.

[onehandle]

35. Hillary is going to win Illinois and the nomination...

...thanks to this flyer!

[auntpurl]

41. lol

[giftedgirl77]

42. The excuses & manufactured outrage is absolutely hilarious.

[progressoid]

69. It's shit like this that is turning people off the Democratic Party machine.

Want people to turn out in November? Don't piss the rest of us.

[giftedgirl77]

36. Your faux outrage is duly noted.

Maybe you should obtain a rudimentary knowledge of what you are complaining about before you do, then you won't look so foolish.

[FSogol]

68. It is almost like some people have never voted before.

I really don't understand how people on a political website can unfamiliar with sample ballots.

[PeaceNikki]

70. I swear to fuck, right?? I just can't even. Literally.

[giftedgirl77]

71. I doubt most have. They just like to complain.

Hell, look at the way they attack Obama mercilessly. Simply bc they lacked a basic knowledge of how politics & business actually works. How they survive in the real world baffles me.

[FSogol]

74. Gotta agree. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

44. lol

The image in the OP is a political flyer which is mailed to people. It is endorsing a candidate or candidates in races. Anybody who thinks this is an official 'sample' ballot should probably not vote.

This is such a non-story that it should be mocked mercilessly.

[auntpurl]

59. Man, I needed a laugh today.

I am genuinely not making fun of anyone, but the idea of people marching into their local polling places and demanding to know why their OFFICiAL BALLOT that they got in the mail attached to a political ad doesn't have Bernie Sanders on it...I just...

[PeaceNikki]

61. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1445863

[jcgoldie]

45. Its a list of candidates they endorse

We receive a similar list in downstate Illinois from the local party office.

[PeaceNikki]

53. I am rec'ing this for its sheer ridiculousness

[PatrickforO]

55. You dreamed of a BIG STAR

He played a mean guitar
Always ate in steak bar

This is a maggoty piece of partisan filth that needs to go viral and these people's website needs to be shut down with protest emails.

Here's their website: http://www.cookcountydems.com/candidates.htm

Maybe we should all email these people in protest. I'm doing it right now.

[PatrickforO]

58. I just emailed these assholes.

Told them omitting Bernie was reprehensible and that they stink.

[PeaceNikki]

63. I am sure they will get a good laugh.

[PeaceNikki]

60. This place is not only jumping sharks, y'all are filling schoolbuses with sharks,

lining them up next to each other, setting them on fire, setting yourselves on fire, and jumping the flaming schoolbuses filled with sharks, while flaming.

[PatrickforO]

66. So...how can you possibly justify the Cook County Democratic Party

OMITTING one of the Democratic candidates for president???

Just wondering...

[PeaceNikki]

67. It's an ad. A mailer. A flyer. Y'all are really cracking me up.

They 'omitted' a lot of names. They only included the names of those they endorsed because it's an AD. That they PAID FOR.

[progressoid]

91. Bigger question. Why is the County Party endorsing a candidate?

If I donate to my county party, I don't want that money going to endorse specific candidates.

[PeaceNikki]

94. Guess what!! If you participate in your local party, you get a say.

If you don't, you don't.

NUTS, right??

[progressoid]

98. So you're saying that the other candidates and their supporters aren't participating?

[hack89]

99. That is a prime function of party organizations at all levels.

the party gets to endorse candidates.

[progressoid]

101. According to the Cook Co Dem website they "proudly endorse and support ALL Democratic candidates"

...proudly endorses and supports all Democratic candidates whether at the federal, state or local level. These candidates deserve our support, as they offer the best vision and policies for a brighter, more prosperous future for all.

http://www.cookcountydems.com/party.htm

[bettyellen]

82. I have a vivid imagination, Nikki- but damn that is an image youre painting!

[Thinkingabout]

57. Who produced this sample ballot?

Looks like Lisa Madigan running for attorney general produced this one, it is an ad, my goodness. Ask Lisa Madigan why she did not put Sanders name on her advertisement sample ballot. It was not produced for the DNC.

[alcibiades_mystery]

72. The ad was produced by the Cook County Democratic Organization

They endorsed a slate of candidates in the primaries; this document lists those endorsements.

[Thinkingabout]

76. Guess they listed candidates they endorsed.

[alcibiades_mystery]

80. Correct. They endorsed Hillary Clinton and listed her

They also endorsed Kim Foxx and listed her, leaving Anita Alvarez off the flyer.

They also endorsed just those four candidates for Water Reclamation. They left off the other Dem candidates.

[Peregrine Took]

62. "Jake, its Chinatown...." recall that famous line. Same thing with Cook County.

Nothing would surprise me that goes on here.

[Le Taz Hot]

64. I love how the Hill people above

just turn a blind eye to the "Sample Ballot" part then suggest we're idiots for objecting. Of course they do.

[PeaceNikki]

65. It's an advertisement.

[alcibiades_mystery]

77. I mention "Sample Ballot" throughout this thread

That's what we call these endorsement slates here. I'm not ignoring the sample ballot part; I'm explaining to people unfamiliar with the concept that that's what we call them in Illinois (or at least in Cook County, though numerous posters in this thread are confirming this in other counties). I'm sorry you find our local terminology confusing, but that's what these kinds of flyers are generally called here.

[Raster]

110. And rest assured, had the shoe been on the other foot...

...this would be injustice and unfairness of the highest order. It's all OK it it's Hillarious.

[frazzled]

84. It's their endorsements, knuckleheads

They've endorsed Clinton, in addition to a slew of candidates in other races in the County. It's NOT a ballot. It's a cheat sheet for their endorsements. Use it or ignore it, whatever you want. (I consulted it, and then deviated from it on three or four downticket races.)

And it's perfectly Kosher: groups are allowed to make endorsements and send them out. It happens every two years.

[progressoid]

114. They should probably change this little tidbit on their website then...

...the party proudly endorses and supports all Democratic candidates whether at the federal, state or local level. These candidates deserve our support, as they offer the best vision and policies for a brighter, more prosperous future for all.

http://www.cookcountydems.com/party.htm

All candidates?

[shawn703]

85. We get sample ballots here in Virginia too

They stand outside the polling places handing them out. Usually they print all the names on the ballot in the order they will show up when you go to vote, and just bold the name or place a checkmark next to the name whoever is handing them out wants you to vote for. This seems like a non-issue to me. Any group can come up with their own sample ballot and give them to interested people who might want help figuring out who to vote for in the lesser noticed down ballot races.

[matt819]

90. These people are despicable! Nt

[OnlinePoker]

102. Democratic Party establishment is as sleezy as the Republicans.

Bad enough to have Liars in Chief under Nixon, Reagan and the Bushes. Now they want to elevate Hillary to that exalted position.

[SoapBox]

103. Vote Democratic!

BUT only for who we say.

Ya...real Democratic.

[Enthusiast]

104. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

Just when you think they can't get any worse.

[riversedge]

105. um.. this is the 2nd long thread of the same non issue.

[alcibiades_mystery]

106. I suspect it won't be the last

[dsc]

107. I am shocked mind you shocked to the core

by the fact that a group which endorsed a candidate didn't put the other candidate on their literature.

[Chicago1980]

108. Sample ballot, not one that counts.

[FloriTexan]

111. Kick!

[Persondem]

113. That is not a complete picture. If it is a real flyer it should say who paid for the ad.

My guess is that's it's the Cook Co. Democratic Party.

It is most certainly NOT an official sample ballot from Cook County Elections Office.

It's just electioneering. Cook Co. Dems can endorse whomever they want to endorse.

Only the uniformed would be outraged.

[Gwhittey]

116. So people saying this is ok

Is the Cook County Democratic Party not the same as DNC? Are they just a group of people or is it a sanctioned group of local Cook County Democratic Party ? I am kinda new to DNC as I was a (R) in 2000 that moved (I) and slowly went (D) not knowing that the (D) I thought I was moving towards was actually moving past the (R) on other side. I always thought the political party was suppose to be impartial and support the party values not specific candidates., I sure have learned a lot in that DNC is just as bad as GOP to it's little people.

[bravenak]

119. I get stuff like this in the mail

And throw it away.

[PeaceNikki]

120. WHAT???!!!! WHY AREN'T YOU TAKING PICTURES OF IT AND POSTING IT HERE TO SHOW YOUR OUTRAGE?!!??

[bravenak]

122. Oops. I suppose I can snap a pic before I toss it if there is a need for DRAMA!!!!!

[PeaceNikki]

123. I'm gonna start posting pics of all of my junk mail here. SOME LOOK LIKE REAL CHECKS BUT AREN'T!!!!!

[bravenak]

125. Oh snap!!

Those tricksters at PCH are at it again!!

[brooklynite]

126. I was handing out sample ballots of endorsed candidates in Philly 40 years ago...

Some people here are clueless about real-world politics.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

127. Never seen this particular kind of bullshit in Texas.

We don't have "sample ballots" that look like that.

We have sample ballots with every candidate on them.

I smell utter bullshit.