Elections and Voting
A
service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website,
www.hydepark.org
Help support our work: Join
the Conference!
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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.
Filed Candidates for Feb. 22 2010 and their status.
Watch for candidate forums (KOCO has already planned on for January).
HPKCC is soliciting candidates' answers to seven questions on vision and needs
for the 4th and 5th Wards- read
this.
More information. VISIT ALD.
CAND. RESPONSES TO HPKCC QUESTIONNAIRE. The
full questionnaire from candidates Burns, Rumsey, and Hairston is available
on the IVI-IPO's (Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization)
website, iviipo.org.
To More information about
the Feb 2011 election etc.
Find out about being a judge: http://www.chicagoelections.com/page.php?id=16.
Pollwatchers- http://www.chicagoelections.com/page.php?id=27.
February 21. Voter registration ends.
February 27-March 15. Early voting.
Primary election March 20 www.chicagoeletions.com
Note, aldermen technically serve (including for permits etc.) those who elected them until after the next election (2015) and constituents register and vote in their current wards until registration formally opens in 2015. But there may be service coordinations between aldermen.
Candidate forums planned. Several organizations have sent candidates extensive survey questionnaires. And the temporary 4th ward vacancy applicants. REPORT on Feb. 5 2011 forum.
Shirley Newsome has been appointed 4th Ward alderman by Mayor Daley to fill the unexpired term of Toni Preckwinkle. She is not running in the election.
Follow
evolving campaigns: Revelection.com-
Charts campaigns,
free listing, “facebook for elections,” you can "vote"
for your favorite.
Earlyandoften.com.
Tracking information but costs to join. Major
newspapers and tv stations have returned candidate questionnaires or interviews,
such as in chicagotribune.com/elections.
February 22, 2011 Consolidated Primary Key Dates
Date Event
Note, registration is now closed and the deadline to apply for absentee ballots has passed.
2/15/2011 Last day of grace period registration and voting
2/17/2011 Last day of Early Voting
2/17/2011 Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot, including military and overseas voters.
2/18/2011 In-person absentee voting begins at the Clerk's downtown Chicago office and five suburban courthouse mini-centers
2/21/2011 Last day voted mail-in absentee ballots can be postmarked for acceptance by the Clerk's office Last day of in-person absentee voting at the Clerk's downtown Chicago office and five suburban courthouse mini-centers
2/22/2011 Election Day
Your registration must have been postmarked by Tuesday, a month before the election January 25. After the mail-in deadline, Illinois also has grace period registration and voting from for the next 3 weeks. This is available at your local election authority and on select public universities, but it may require that you vote at the same time you register. If there has been any change in your status or eligibility since the last election -- did you move? change your name? turn 18? -- you need to register in order to cast a ballot this fall. Early voting should start a month before the February 22 election. Photo ID nec., no reason is- Jackson Park fieldhouse 6401 S. Stony Island (Ward 5) , M-Sat 9-5; King Center (Ward 4), M L King Community Ctr 4314 S. Cottage Grove - Mon-Sat, 9 am-5 pm
More....
Grace Period Registration & Voting
Grace period voting is a safety net for people who failed to register by a January
deadline. A grace period voter must register in person at the Election Board
offices at 69 W. Washington St., sixth floor, and must vote then and there.
Grace period registration and voting ends Oct. 26.
If you're registering to vote in person, bring two pieces of identification.
Neither needs to be a photo ID, but one must include your current address. Acceptable
forms of ID include:
•Illinois driver's
license
•Illinois state ID
•Employee or student ID
•Credit card
•Social security card
•Birth certificate
•Utility bill in your name
•Mail postmarked to you
•Valid U.S. passport
•Lease or rental contract
Absentee Voting
You can also vote before election day by mail through absentee voting.
Anyone registered to vote in Chicago is eligible to cast an absentee ballot.
You have to file a completed and signed request for an absentee ballot by the
legal deadline, October 28.
You can download the absentee ballot application--just click here. Voters in
Illinois don't need to offer a reason to vote early or 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.
Election Guide: http://www.chicagoelections.com. http://www.chicagoelections.com/dm/general/document_595.pdf
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 February 22 municipal nonpartisan 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 --, 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 22 2011 and is STILL ON THE BALLOT Latest formal standings.
City website section on challenges gives rulings for those for whom rendered
by board. As of January 12 "DRAFT" Ballot
For Mayor
1 RAHM EMANUEL 754 N. Milwaukee Avenue Second Floor, Chicago Illinois 60642 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
2 MIGUEL DEL VALLE 2218 North Lamon Ave, Chicago Illinois 60639 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
3 CAROL MOSELEY BRAUN 1229 East 56th Street, Chicago Illinois 60637 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
4 GERY J. CHICO 310 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60604 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
5 PATRICIA VAN PELT WATKINS 2826 West Washington Boulevard, Chicago Illinois 60612 11/22/2010 10:31:00 AM Candidate
6 WILLIAM WALLS, III 1709 North Moody Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60639 11/22/2010 5:00:00 PM CandidateEliminated: TYRONE CARTER, JOHN HU, TRICIA LEE, JAY STONE, RYAN GRAVES, TOMMY HANSON, FENTON PATTERSON, HOWRD RAY, FREDERICK WHITE..
And withdrew-ROLAND BURRIS, DANNY DAVIS, ROB HALPIN, JAMES MEEKS, _____ JONATHAN, WILFREDO DE JESUS
For City Clerk21 PATRICIA HORTON 610 West 61st Place, Chicago Illinois 60621 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
25 SUSANA A. MENDOZA 2646 S. Sawyer Avenue, Second Floor, Chicago Illinois 60623 11/22/2010 4:41:00 PM CandidateRemoved- ANDROS, COCONATE, DAVIDOVAC, YOUNG. Withdrew SANDI JACKSON
For City Treasurer31 STEPHANIE D. NEELY 1140 E. 44th St., Chicago Illinois 60653 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
Removed- CRUZ
For Alderman 3rd Ward
51 EBONY TILLMAN 4321 South M L King Jr Drive, Chicago Illinois 60653 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
52 PAT DOWELL 4414 S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Chicago Illinois 60653 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
Removed- Christine Dawson Perkins CHRISTINE DAWSON PERKINS, MATTHEW JOHNSON. , Withdrew- BENJAMIN HARRIS
For Alderman 4th Ward
51 WILLIAM D. "WILL" BURNS 920 East 48th Street, Chicago Illinois 606151802 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
52 BRIAN SCOTT 4736 South Drexel Boulevard, Chicago Illinois 60615 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
53 NORMAN H. BOLDEN 4318 S. Berkeley Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60653 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
54 JAMES E. WILLIAMS 4029 S. Vincennes, Chicago Illinois 60653 11/19/2010 9:13:00 AM Candidate
55 GEORGE RUMSEY 5433 South Greenwood #3 , Chicago Illinois 606155103 11/22/2010 9:01:00 AM Candidate
56 ADAM L. MIGUEST 4413 S. Ellis, Chicago Illinois 60653 11/22/2010 10:35:00 AM Candidate
58 LORI S. YOKOYAMA 4800 S. Greenwood, Chicago Illinois 60615 11/22/2010 3:21:00 PM CandidateRemoved: HORTON (obj. sustained), BEARD (default & obj. sustained), Dantzler. Withdrew: BONNER
For Alderman 5th Ward51 ANNE MARIE MILES 5490 South South Shore Drive, Chicago Illinois 60615 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
52 MICHELE A. TANKERSLEY 1526 E. Park Shore East Apt 3H , Chicago Illinois 60637 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
53 LESLIE A. HAIRSTON 6858 South Chappel Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60649 11/15/2010 9:00:00 AM Candidate
56 GLENN ROSS 7151 S Paxton Ave, Chicago Illinois 60649 11/22/2010 3:39:00 PM Candidate
57 CAROL HIGHTOWER CHALMERS 6948 South Paxton Street, Chicago Illinois 60649 11/22/2010 4:32:00 PM Candidate
Removed- objections sustained: HENDRICKS, MCALLISTER, SANKEY, WILLIAMS-BEY, WOHADLO
For Alderman 20th Ward (objections not thoroughly checked for)
GEORGE E. DAVIS 6531 S. Ingleside Ave, Chicago Illinois 60637 Candidate
ANDRE SMITH 6000 South Indiana Ave. Apt 101, Chicago Illinois 60637 Candidate
WILLIE B. COCHRAN 6118 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60637 M Candidate
CHE "RHYMEFEST" SMITH 5942 S. King Drive Unit 3N, Chicago Illinois 60637 Candidate
SIDNEY (SID) SHELTON 454 E. 66th Street, Chicago Illinois 60637 CandidateRemoved- DAVID NUCKOLLS
CANDIDATE FORUMS being planned or happened.
As for the current temporary vacancy for the 4th ward, Shirley Newsome and Craig Carrington have applied.
MORE INFORMATION AND REPORTS FROM MEDIA- see the Campaign Front 2011 page.
_________________________________________
The
League of Women Voters is an organization that works for electoral integrity
and an informed citizenry. Local
contact: Dorothy 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.
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 Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, both Democrats. Considering: Democrat U.S. Rep. Danny David, Cook County Sheriff 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.
|
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 judge supplies 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 with the privacy sleeve and insert in the
ballot scanner.
TOUCHSCREEN:
Designed for voters with disabilities, but anyone may use.
1. The judge supplies a
voter card, which you push into the yellow slot until it clicks
2. Select language
3. View printed record of choices in the machine. When done, touch "cast
ballot" and return the 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....