Joe Lundy playing fair

State Representative Joe Lundy, who had beaten a Machine candidate to win his first term, accepted its backing for re-election in 1974 but refused to abandon his Independent organization. Still, he and his “running mate” Art Berman agreed not to “bullet” for themselves (a “bullet” vote is explained below) in their quest to win the two contested seats in the district’s primary election. They felt they should ask voters to choose them both and not just vote for one of them.

But their supporters did not agree with that decision.

Berman was backed by the Democratic Machine in the 50th, 49th, and 48th wards, and they all bulleted for him, except in areas where Lundy was popular and would likely out poll Berman. There, they presented the two as a team, hoping Lundy’s popularity would carry over to their candidate.

Lundy was supported by the Democratic Party of Evanston (DPOE), where a few supported “the team,” but most bulleted for him. And the foot soldiers of IVI and IPO, who campaigned in the Chicago precincts, adamantly pushed a bullet vote for Lundy everywhere.

Lundy wanted his organization to abide by the agreement, even if Berman’s didn’t, and he barred from his office any piece of campaign literature that promoted a bullet vote.    

So, when volunteers arrived at the Lundy office to pick up campaign materials, they were handed a bundle of brochures and then directed to a parked car outside the office, where a volunteer reached into the trunk, grabbed a packet of bullet literature, and stuffed it into their bags.

(When Illinois elected three state representatives from each district, voters in primary elections could cast 1 ½ votes for each of two candidates or 3 votes for just one of them. Casting three was referred to as a “bullet” vote and was intended to maximize support for the voter’s first choice.

 In general elections, they could cast 1 vote for each of three candidates, 1 ½ for two of them, or all 3 for just one. A straight party vote resulted in 1 ½ votes for both party nominees.

Three state reps were elected from each district back then and the major parties only nominated two in each, thus guaranteeing both of them at least one legislator in every district in the state.)

More information about how bullet voting was conducted can be found in “Chicago Political Stories” at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/994143.