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Religious Observers Given Absentee Voting Rights in Illinois

July 12, 1961
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A bill to permit the use of absentee ballots when an election falls on a religious holiday has been passed by the Illinois Legislature. The key supporters were State Rep. Michael F. Zlatnik in the House and State Senator Daniel Dugh-erty, both of Chicago.

The measure corrects a voting requirement which has hampered both Jewish candidates and Jewish voters, particularly the Orthodox ones, in exercising their voting rights. The opposition in the Senate to the measure included protests from an alleged John Birch Society cell.

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