Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times | YouTube

In a blatant slap in the face to the American people, Chicago is providing illegal immigrants the means to vote through a new form of identification that bypasses federal law.

The new "CityKey" ID card will be issued to illegal immigrants and available to all Chicago residents, regardless of immigration status, criminal record, housing status, or gender identity. State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich says the final decision on whether the document will be accepted falls on local officials.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqnitF9mIhk" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

"There are 109 local election authorities in Illinois," Dietrich said. "They’re the ones who actually handle the registration, the checking of IDs, and keeping the documentation. We maintain an electronic database of voter registrations that we get from them."

While Dietrich maintains there is no state requirement to prove citizenship while registering to vote, the fact that felons will be able to acquire the "CityKey" ID card flies in the face of laws preventing felons from voting. Dietrich also said he's "not expecting a surge in potential voter fraud."

"When you go to register to vote, you do check a box that attests to your citizenship," Dietrich said. "You are signing a legal document that says, 'Yes, I am a citizen.' But no one who registers to vote is required to bring in, for example, a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. That’s something that you check the box, and you attest to it."

Dietrich believes the penalty for illegally registering to vote is steep enough to discourage people from doing it.

"The main thing that would happen is deportation," Dietrich added. "If you’re not a citizen, and you have any thoughts of ever attaining citizenship, registering to vote is almost an instant trigger that when you apply for citizenship, you will be deported. That’s one of the first things they check."

"I believe, from what I’ve read, the Chicago municipal ID would live up to the qualifications under state statute for what a government-issued ID is. So that would be a legal form of ID for the board of elections to accept." Chicago officials acknowledge the "CityKey" ID card offers the most appeal to illegal immigrants.

Related coverage: <a href="http://www.thegoldwater.com/news/19298-Immigrant-Double-Stabbing-Leaves-Woman-Dead-At-Massachusetts-Library">Immigrant Double Stabbing Leaves Woman Dead At Massachusetts Library</a>

<i>On Twitter:</i>

<a href="https://twitter.com/ErvinProduction">@ErvinProduction</a>

Tips? Info? Send me a message!

Source: https://www.ilnews.org/news/statewide/new-chicago-id-card-created-for-undocumented-immigrants-will-be/article_24ae14c0-18ab-11e8-83cd-1bca8efc0375.html