Fellow Republicans, 

Today marks my final Chairman's Memo, and with it, my last day serving as your State Party Chair. Over the past 3-1/2 years, I hope you've found these weekly updates helpful, and that my leadership has positively impacted you and our fellow Republicans across Illinois.

Serving as Chair of the Illinois Republican Party has been a challenging yet deeply fulfilling role. I've often joked it's the worst-paying job I've ever had, but also one of the most important.

In a time when politics is disparaged by many, I believe wholeheartedly in its importance—it's the alternative to resolving differences through conflict. Good politics preserve peace; bad politics can sow division and worse including war.

Reflecting on our time together, I take pride in what we've accomplished. In the past 3-1/2 years, we've doubled State Party operational capabilities and political infrastructure. We've bolstered election integrity efforts, improved voter data and turnout initiatives, enhanced training for Precinct Committeemen, Election Judges, and Poll Watchers, and initiated and maintained this weekly Memo.

No one in politics accomplishes anything for the common good without a dedicated team effort. I am incredibly grateful to our incredible staff; and, to the following who chaired key committees and/or served as officers: Mark Hosty, Mark Shaw, Rhonda Belford, Larry Smith, Laura Pollastrini, Jan Weber, Judy Diekelman, and our State Convention Committee Chairs.

I must also acknowledge the pivotal role of our Finance Committee, led by Vince Kolber, and its great members Richard Porter, Kathy Salvi, Lynn O'Brien, Brian Kasal, Mark Shaw, and Kari Galassi, who initiated and led our immensely successful Bank Your Vote Gala in Rosemont last February. Their work on fund raising has been instrumental in expanding our reach across
Illinois.

I also thank all the hard working members of our Election Integrity Committee especially Carol Davis, Willard Helander, & John Ackerman. Finally, I was blessed with incredible RNC representatives. Thank you National Committeeman Richard Porter and National Committeewoman Demetra DeMonte for their decades of great service to the State Party 

As I pass the torch to Kathy Salvi, I have full confidence in her leadership and her ability with your help to better unite the State Party. Kathy has been an invaluable asset to our Party, from her US Senate campaign in 2022 to her 3 ½ years of service on the Finance Committee. Her dedication to Illinois Republicans is unwavering, and I know she will excel as our new Chair.

While my tenure as State Chair concludes, my commitment to our cause remains steadfast. I will continue to help the Illinois Republican Party and support Republican candidates in Illinois and beyond, including the all-important mission of re-electing President Trump.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving as your State Party Chair, and for all that you do, and will do, to help elect more Republicans in Illinois and elsewhere..

We examined the voting records of all of the commissioned Republican election judges in the City of Chicago, in suburban Cook County, St. Clair County, and East St. Louis. It is apparent that far too many Republican election judges actually have a history of voting in Democratic primaries. We simply must do a better job of filling our Republican election judge positions with actual Republicans. If we do not fill these positions, the Democrats will. I encourage any Republican to take the extra step in participating in the electoral process by becoming an election judge. Sign up to be an election judge!

To find out how you can help save Illinois, go to the Illinois Election Integrity Program website at ieip.org. Volunteer for as little or as much as you are able! Volunteers can help by joining the Illinois Election Integrity Program. In case you have recently moved or just wish to check your registration status go to https://ova.elections.il.gov/RegistrationLookup.aspx to make sure that your voter registration is up to date ahead of the crucial 2024 election cycle. Please reach out to CJ, our Election Integrity Director for further assistance.

Tools to Protect Voters and Voter Rolls Accuracy

When the moving van pulled away, was something left behind? 
For three decades, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) has conditioned voters to "let the government take care" of voter registration by adding them to the voter rolls with no individual action needed. It's not surprising that most voters leave their registration behind if they move since the government automatically registers everyone -- often multiple times! Why would anyone think to take action when putting their former home in the rear-view mirror? 

Several state laws make the current voting process less secure.
Voting by mail is unrestricted in Illinois. If you enroll in the permanent vote by mail program, a ballot is automatically mailed to your address each election, even after you move if the local election authority does not know you have moved.  Another murky concern is that Illinois law was changed to allow a mail ballot to be verified without comparison with the ballot signature with the signature on the voter registration record.  All these make it very important that voters who move don't leave their voter registration behind. 

What can you do to help?
Everyone can help achieve more accurate voter lists by spreading the word about easy ways to notify their local election official when moving.  

Don't leave your voting identity behind for others to exploit.
When a family member, friend or neighbor moves --share a customized version of the attached notice they can send to the election official. The moving voter should ask for written confirmation that the registration at the old address is cancelled. (Attachment #1) Identity theft is commonplace. Good neighbors don't let neighbors leave voting credentials behind. Awareness can prevent someone from impersonating the moved person or even attempting to build credit using the moved person's name. Many election officials give directions on the back of the voter card about how to inform the office when moving.  

Help new homeowners avoid claims of voting for prior owners. 
As you speak with neighbors, share the form (attachment #2 which can be customized by county/ jurisdiction) when the former resident has "left their registration behind."  If you know a committeeman whose duties include meeting voters and distributing voting information, ask that person to share the form when speaking with voters who found that someone left their registration behind. Help protect everyone! 

Make America Affordable Once Again

President Trump’s vision for America’s economic revival is lower taxes, bigger paychecks, and more jobs for American workers. During President Trump’s term, America experienced an unprecedented economic boom. President Trump’s America First economic policies slashed cumbersome regulations, cut tax rates, and reworked trade deals to create a fairer playing field for American industry and workers.

• Under President Trump, America was roaring with the No. 1 fastest economic recovery ever recorded.
• On President Trump’s last day in office, GDP was growing at 6.3%, inflation was 1.4%, the price of gasoline was $2.39 a gallon.
• President Trump created nearly 7 million new jobs—triple the projections.
  • These new high-paying jobs led to the lowest unemployment rate in nearly 50 years.
  • Income rose in every single metropolitan area for the first time in three decades.
• Unemployment rates for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and those without a high school diploma all reached historic lows.
• President Trump’s economic policies lifted nearly 7 million people off of food stamps.
• Under President Trump, blue-collar jobs grew at the fastest rate in more than 30 years, helping fuel a hiring boom in many small towns and rural areas.

• Biden has presided over the highest inflation in 40 years, with inflation still double the rate when he took office.
• Labor force participation was stronger under President Trump, and Bidenflation has outpaced wage growth nearly the entirety of Biden’s term.
  • Real wages remain lower than when Biden first took office.
  • By comparison, under President Trump real average weekly wages rose 8.2%.
• Bidenflation outpaced wages for a majority of Biden’s presidency: Both year-over-year real average hourly earnings and real average weekly earnings were negative for 25 months.
• The second Trump administration will turn the page on the mindless “Bidenomics” agenda and usher in a new age of prosperity. 
• President Trump’s platform is a pro-American agenda that stands in stark contrast to the record of weakness, failure, and dishonesty created by Joe Biden.
• Go to https://www.donaldjtrump.com/platform to know more about his vision to Make America Great Again.

Illinois Delegation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee 

Chairman's Satire: 

Thank you for all you do and for supporting the Illinois Republican Party

Sincerely,

Don Tracy

Please stand with us and consider making a $10 or $25 contribution to our efforts. Your generous donation will fund our fight against the Democrat socialist agenda. Thank you in advance.

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