Elections and Voting
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service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website,
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Elections and VotingA
service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website,
www.hydepark.org |
Watch here for news of upcoming elections. You can serve as deputy canvassers/registrars or as judges of election incl. high school juniors who keep up a 3.0 grade average. Contact Board of Elections, (312) 269-7851 FAX 312 269-0664. Training opportunities for volunteer deputy registrars will open again. Call 312 269-7851. See below: County Clerk David Orr's and commissioner's appeals for election judges and call for reform.
Election Guide: http://www.chicagoelections.com. http://www.chicagoelections.com/dm/general/document_595.pdf
Ald. Toni Preckwinkle
won the February 2 2010 Democratic Primary for Cook County Board President with
close to half the vote. The big next question is who is selected to replace
her as 4th Ward Alderman (appointed by the Mayor). Will Burns is likely to be
and is running; also running are Greorge Rumsey and Norman Bolden.
In the only major local contests (other than judicial, not yet revealed), local
congressmen were reselected and Jerry Butler was reselected for 3rd district
County Board. Notable also are that there are Green as well as Republican challengers
for many offices, including Cook County Board President (but not 3rd district
member) and some area congressmen and legislators.
Report any ADA issues on day of election (including uncleared ramps) immediately to Equip for Equality, contact@equipforequality.org, 312 341-0022, TTY 800 610-2779.
Contacts
about the election and the procedures
Some information regarding petitions applicable to the February Municipal General Election 2011
Signing petition sheets
• Each person signing the petition must personally sign the petition. No one may sign another person’s name or signature on the petition, including spouses or members of the family for another person. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• The signer's residence address must be written or printed opposite his or her name and shall include the street address, city and county, except that the City of Chicago and Cook County may be printed on the petition forms. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• Each petition signer must, at the time he or she signs the petition, be registered to vote at the address shown opposite his or her signature on the petition, and such address must be within the ward in which the candidate is seeking election. [10 ILCS 5/3-1.2, 5/10-4]
• Petition signers may not sign more than one nominating petition for the same office. [10 ILCS 5/10-3]
Circulating petition sheets
• No petition sheet shall be circulated more than 90 days preceding the last day provided by law for filing the petition. Therefore, the first day that petition sheets may be circulated for the February 22, 2011 election is Tuesday, August 24, 2010. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• Petition circulators must be at least 18 years of age and be citizens of the United States. They need not be registered to vote nor are they required to be residents of the City or of the Ward in which they circulate petitions. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• A candidate may circulate his or her own petition sheets. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• All signatures on a single petition sheet must be signed in the presence of the circulator of that sheet. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]
• Each petition sheet must contain at the bottom a statement completed and signed by the circulator of that sheet certifying that the signatures were signed in his or her presence, that the signatures are genuine, that none of the signatures were signed more than 90 days preceding the last day for filing the petitions, that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the persons signing the petition were at the time of signing the petition duly registered voters of the political subdivision or district in which the candidate is seeking election, and that the respective addresses of the signers are correctly stated on the petition sheet. Such statement must be sworn to by the circulator before some officer authorized to administer oaths in the State of Illinois. [10 ILCS 5/10-4]More
Persons should sign their name as it is written on their registration card, they MUST live in the Ward at the correct address where they are registered to vote, and they cannot sign more than one candidate's petition. And they cannot sign for someone who is not there (a husband can't sign for a wife, or a parent for a child).Anyone who is a valid resident over 18 years of age can circulate petitions (you do not have to live in the candidate's Ward). At the bottom of the page is signature and date lines for the circulator, but these should not be filled in until the petitions are turned in to the candidate and a Notary Public, when the deadline approaches. Do not use knock-off petitions including pdf or emailed (it has to be the board of election's font, with everything theirs says.) Do not fold petitions, prenumber, etc.
Registration and Voting for the November 2, 2010 primary election.
Next election: Rules and deadlines are similar to those for the February 2 2010 primary READ FACTS ABOUT REGISTERING AND VOTING (IN PDF)
In Chicago, voters may register:
by submitting a mail-in form (you can ask Rep. Currie's office to email it to you-or 773.667.0550. Or drop by 1303 E. 53rd St. You can also send an email to repcurrie@sbcglobal.net.), which must be postmarked no later than January 5th.
in person at 69 W. Washington St., Sixth Floor.
through an active deputy registrar affiliated with a local organization, such as a political party, ward office, business, etc.
at any driver's license facility.
Early Voting and Absentee Voting
Early voting for the 2010 Primary Election will be offered Jan. 11 through Jan. 28, 2010, 9 am-5 pm. To vote early, just bring a government-issued photo ID card.
Chicago voters may vote at any of the city's 51 sites, regardless of where they live. Hours for all sites are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.
You can vote early downtown at the Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level Conference Room. This location is also open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Here's a list of early voting sites in and around the 25th District:
4th Ward -- M L King Community Ctr. 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
5th Ward -- Jackson Park 6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
7th Ward -- Jeffery Manor Library 2401 E. 100th St.
10th Ward -- Vodak/East Side Library 3710 E. 106th St. This location is also open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
20th Ward -- Coleman Library 731 E. 63rd St.
Grace Period Voting
Grace period voting is a safety net offered to those who failed to register by the January 5th deadline.
A grace period voter must register and vote at the same time in person at the Election Board offices at 69 W. Washington St. on the Sixth Floor. Grace period registration and voting will be offered Jan. 6 thru Jan. 26, 2010.
Absentee Voting
Voters are allowed to cast their ballots before Election Day either in person at an early voting site or by mail through absentee voting.
All persons registered to vote in Chicago are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The voter must file a completed and signed request for an absentee ballot by the legal deadline:
Applications from military and civilians overseas must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Jan. 25.
Applications from voters in the United States must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Jan. 22.
To download the absentee ballot application, go to the Board of Elections Website or Rep. Currie's office as above.
Under a new law, voters in Illinois don't need to offer a reason to vote absentee.
In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot:
Members of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marine and their spouses and dependents, whether serving in the United States or abroad.
U.S. citizens and their spouses or dependents whose permanent residences are in Chicago but who will be temporarily living abroad on Election Day.
U.S. citizens (not their spouses or dependents) who maintained a residence in Chicago immediately before their departure from the United States.
If you're planning on voting absentee, be sure to apply early to make sure your application arrives in time.
Happy New Year -- and happy voting!
Who
filed for February 2010 and is still on the ballot pending challenges review?
* = challenged
The
League of Women Voters is an organization that works for electoral integrity
and an informed citizenry. Local
contact: Doorthy Scheff, 5550 South Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, 773
753-4647.
Downtown: 332 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 939-5935-President
there Esta Kallen, tkandek@aol.com.
www.lwv.org (search by state),
www.lwvil.org (state org)
Purpose: To promote citizen participation and integrity in the electoral and
civic processes and good government, elucidate public issues. Holds monthly
meetings and forums at Montgomery Place. Has held candidate forums.
Voter
registration is still open (grace period) for the 2010 primary. At 69 W. Washington
only.
You always should bring along 2 pieces of identification including one showing
current address you are registering from, just in case. Always inform the Board
of Elections when you move. .
More information: http://www.voterreg@cookcountygov.com or 312 603-0906.
Another tip: get involved in civic activist and political organizations. One of several partisan and nonpartisan campaign involvement sites is www.voteforchange.com, which qualifies persons over a certain age for registering persons to vote in any state.
June 2009: Alderman Tony Preckwinkle (4th), after several months of preparation, has thrown her hat in the ring for Cook County Board President. Her website is http://www.ToniPreckwinkle.org. Also in the race: Cook County Ourt Clerk Dorothy Brown, Cok County Board President Todd H. Stroger, both Democrats. Considering: Democarate U.S. Rep. Danny David, Cook County Sherrif Tom Dart, Cook County Assessor James Houlihan, County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (13), MWRD President Terence O'Brien. Republicans Commissioner Tony Peraica and Ste Sen Matt Murphy.
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Find
your polling place www.
voterinfonet.com or www.chicagoelections.org
There are many evaluators of judicial candidates, of which just one is the Chicago Bar Association- www.voteforjudges.org. sponsored by the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice. it gives the evaluations of ALL bar associations and area newspapers and is downloadable. See also www.retentionjudges.com.... |
Open
and honest elections are very important to Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference.
Recently, we felt much was left to be desired in the process for selection (and
non-election for nearly 2 years) of a state senator to fill a vacancy. We also
deplore lack of deference to formal community process of choice and input and
lack of open, or at least observed, meetings in many decisions that affect the
community.
Meanwhile, we encourage you to volunteer for judge or poll watcher at elections.
Lets have a full contingent of judges and watchful eyes at every precinct in
the area. And, make sure you are registered to vote--especially if you have
moved. If you have doubt (i.e., didn't get a confirmation card), bring two forms
of id with you, one showing current address. Top
Federal law requires first-time voters who register by mail to show proof of identification in order to vote. You may be able to satisfy this requirement by providing your driver's license number or, if you do not have a driver's license the last 4 digits of your social security number.
Other acceptable forms
of identification are a copy of a current and valid photo ID or a copy pf a
current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government
document that shows your name and address.
If you register by mail, you must vote in person the first time you vote. If
you register at a public service agency, any information regarding the agency
which assisted you will remain confidential as will any decision not to register.
If you change your name, you must re-register.
There will be two ways to vote. Optical scan ballots and electronic touch screen.
Optical scan voting.
Printed ballot contains the names of al candidates and offices. Complete the
arrow (with straight, direct lines) beside the name selected. (If voting
absentee, be sure to use blue or black ink.) There is a special write-in
section for each office- write the name then complete the arrow. Be
careful not to overvote. The ballot is two-sided. To change your vote you must
ask for a new ballot.
After voting, take your ballot to a ballot scanner and insert, in the privacy
sleeve , into the marked slot. If rejected, you will be informed why and given
opportunist to re vote or you may have it processed "as is."
Electronic touchscreen. Intended largely for the disabled. Receive a voter card and insert it into the yellow slot at bottom right--push until you feel it click. Operates like ATM with menus, etc. This method prevents overvotes. You can scroll around and self-correct. You can verify your vote with a printed tape. When done, touch "cast ballot"- once this is done you cannot change your vote.
Election Central
is 312 260-7870.
Two options: Optical scan uses a paper ballot. Touchscreen is electronic and creates a paper record secured in the printer.
OPTICAL:
1. The jusge suplies a
special pen and a paper ballot.
2. Both sides of the ballot list offices and candidates. Connect the arrow to
the right of t he name. If you make a mistake, you must ask for a new ballot.
3. After voting, cover the ballot withte privacy sleeve and insert in the ballot
scanner.
TOUCHSCREEN:
Designed for voters with disabilities, but anyone may use.
1. The juge supplies a
voter card, which you push into the yellow slot until it clicks
2. Select language
3. View printed record of choices in th machine. When done, touch "cast
ballot" and returnt he voter card to the judge.
Contact: CEB Human Resources Department, 69 W. Washington Suite 800. 773 269-7950.
Volunteer deputy registrar training. 312 269-7851, FAX 312 269-0664.
Training requests must be submitted, in writing, on an organization's letterhead, by the organization coordinator, with phone number. The Community Services Division of the Board must receive these requests by the indicated deadline. Send to attn. of Kelly Bateman, Director, Community Services Division. The request must include name and address of each volunteer and indicate the class date and time requested. Attendees must reside in Chicago. Sessions may be cancelled. Training is at 33 N. LaSalle 2nd floor. Top
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, 69 W. Washington. (312) 269-7900.
County Clerk Orr: "Need Felt for Election Judges"
If we can put a man on the moon, why can't we get elections right?
As Cook County's chief election authority, I hear that a lot. In reality, neither rocket scientists nor my staff runs the show on Election day. The most powerful people on Election Day are the election judges--your neighbors who wake up at 4 a.m. and spend a 14-hour day inside a school gymnasium to ensure that your polling place runs smoothly.
In helping to guarantee democracy, polling place workers shouldn't have to take a vacation day or worry about jeopardizing their jobs. Instead, businesses should allow employees to take the day off to serve as election judges--just as they do for employees who sit on juries.
Since the 2000 presidential election, most of the debate surrounding election reform has focused on voting equipment, while the human component of improving elections has largely been ignored. Sure, machines count votes and transmit results, but election judges must set up the equipment correctly, show voters how the machines work and know what to do if they malfunction.
Unfortunately, election authorities nationwide face shortages of election judges at a time when we need them most. The introduction of new federal voting procedures coupled with an expected heavy voter turnout makes it essential that every precinct have a full complement of five election judges for the November 2 election. That's more than 25,000 election judges in Cook County alone.
Last spring, my office drafted a bill that would have required businesses to give time off to employees who work as election judges. It ultimately died after winning approval in the Illinois House. But civic-minded companies in Illinois can still support the spirit of the law on their own.
Deforest B. Soaries, Jr., chairman of the federal Election Assistance Commission, has called the decrease in polling place workers "an emerging crisis" that eclipses any technical issues. The commission is now urging corporate leaders nationwide to recruit more election judges by awarding employees the day off to work at the polls.
Granted, working as an election judge is hardly glamorous stuff. You work long hours and don't get rich doing it. But election judges play a critical role by serving on the front lines and making sure elections are conducted fairly, honestly and accurately.
The more knowledgeable, well-trained judges we have on hand, the better. Granting them time off to protect voter rights, reduce polling place confusion and minimize ballot errors only makes sense.
Election judge vacancies a familiar problem. by Theresa M. Petrone, Bd of El. Commrs. [Note, a firm rebuttal by a retired teacher to the part about using teachers appeared in the September 29 Hyde Park Herald.]
Hyde Park Herald, September 15, 2004
The current system of recruiting and assigning judges is no longer effective and needs to be replaced with a procedure that will ensure all voters are served by trained and reliable poll workers.
Judges of election are currently appointed by the two major political parties. In the City of Chicago, approximately 14,000 judges, evenly divided between Democrat an Republican, are needed to staff the city's 2,709 polling places.
Unfortunately, in recent years, this task has become more difficult, leaving the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners scrambling to fill thousands of vacancies during the 45-day period prior to the election when the Board can make direct appointments in precincts where the political parties made no assignments.
With only a few months until the Nov. 2 Presidential Election, the Board finds itself with more than 10,000 judges of election vacancies. A crisis? Yes, but one that the Board faces every two years when the term of all judges of election expires.
Past experience has demonstrated that the key to a well-run election is to have trained and conscientious judges of election assigned to all precincts. Although there are hundreds of dedicated judges of election who serve every election, some for decades, there are many precincts where it is difficult to recruit anyone to serve. This problem is compounded by the large number of judges of election who fail to show up election morning, leaving some precincts with one or two judges, or even none!
Serving as a judge of election requires training. Judges must know ho to set up the polling place in the morning; process and assist voters during the polling hours; be able to close the polls and tally the vote; and be knowledgeable of a complex State Election code and federal requirements. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners does its part in providing a professional school of instruction, a comprehensive judge of election manual, and unlimited backup services through Election central. Yet, even with all of this assistance, serving as a judge can be a challenging and intimidating task. In precincts with untrained judges of election, mistakes are easy to make, sometimes disenfranchising voters.
What is the solution to the judge of election vacancy crisis? Her is a suggestion that would solve the judge of election dilemma and provide voters with the best possible electoral system:
A professional cadre of Chicago school teachers who would staff the city's polling places every election....