Election Day Protocol from CIN's Favorite Former Election Judge

[Jels]

I posted this in Yelp in response to a thread about early voting. Thought I'd post it here. THEN I will get back to work. I promise.

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If you are not going to vote early to avoid the long lines, do this former Election Judge a solid by helping out with the following on Election Day:

1. Don't complain about the long lines. The precincts are allotted only so many voting stations. Because the ballots in Chicago are the butterfly/punch card kind AND small print, it may take a while before everyone is finished. It's not the Election Judges fault that someone may take 15 minutes to vote. This election turnout will be huge (the Kerry/Bush election in 2004 - my precinct had a 98% turnout. If you expect to get there at 7am to vote so you can get to work by 8am - you WILL be disappointed.)

2. Download your sample ballot to get acquainted with Ward-specific/Congressional district-specific/Judicial District-specific races.
www.chicagoelections.com


3. Please confirm your voting status and polling place BEFORE the election. Election Judges do not have wireless internet connections to help you and will not have the tools to do something you probably should have assessed before you waited in line for an hour.
www.chicagoelections.com


4. If you are not going to confirm your voter status before, at least check the voter list that is posted on the door outside the polling place. That will tell you whether it is worth your while to stand in line for an hour only to be turned away by the Judges.


5. Please be respectful and don't give the Judges eye rolls if we have disabled people/seniors move ahead of the line. It is a judgment call for the Judges, and a courtesy you will hope will be extended to you if you were ever in that situation.


6. Be patient on the process when you present yourself to the Judges for a ballot. A Repub and Dem Judge has to confirm you are who you say you are. This is done in a variety of ways. I won't bore you with the details, but know that there IS a reason for the madness.


7. If you have moved or are a newly registered voter - please confirm your voter status. Even if everything checks out - it may be a safe bet to bring your i.d. with your NEW address and/or a few utility bills from your new address.
www.chicagoelections.com


I'm sure I have more "tips" (or "pleas" - more like it) - but the one thing that struck me when I was an Election Judge for several elections is the all the different types of people. You get the patient, kind senior citizen with a cane and oxygen tank waiting in line for an hour thanking the Judges for volunteering their time (yes, we get paid, but after a 14-15 hour shift, it's not much more than minimum wage) and dedication to the process. Then you get the self-righteous jerks who ... eh - you can imagine what they do. They're jerks.

One Last Thing: Remember - if you are not registered to vote in Illinois - you can't vote in Illinois - even if it's a "federal" election. So please, register to vote. NOW. www.chicagoelections.com


And be kind to your Election Judges.

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Early voting starts Oct. 13. Know where to find polling places? You got it: www.chicagoelections.com

[Monahan]

I've heard the you will get turned away if you wear an Obama shirt or button to the polling place cause that is considered "campaigning" and it is illegal to campaign within a certain distance of the polling place.

Is that accurate? If so, that's something that should probably be wider spread news, cause I see a fair number of younger voters arriving in essentially the equivalent of their concert t-shirt for this election.

[Chip]

I've heard the you will get turned away if you wear an Obama shirt or button to the polling place cause that is considered "campaigning" and it is illegal to campaign within a certain distance of the polling place.

Is that accurate? If so, that's something that should probably be wider spread news, cause I see a fair number of younger voters arriving in essentially the equivalent of their concert t-shirt for this election.

Man, rule 1 of concert attendance is don't wear the T-shirt of the band that's playing, yo. I'll be rockin' my Strom Thurmond for City Council '14!

(also, thanks, Jels! I hope everyone pays attention to the local races, too. They can be very important to your daily life...)

[Tony]

I have a question.

I know I could find the information on line, but practically speaking...

If I have a CA license, and a utility bill with my name and current address (that matches what I am registered under), I can still vote, correct?

[Jels]

1. Wearing Your Candidate's Gear

You are not allowed to wear pins/hats/etc. with your candidates name/logo. It's considered electioneering. As an Election Judge, I have never seen anyone turned away, but we have asked people standing in line to take off their pins/hats.

By the time the election does roll around, it shouldn't be an issue - as you can just keep your coat on.


2. Electioneering Borders

No electioneering (passing out pamplets, etc.) within 100 feet of the entrance to the polling place. Committeemen love to move that little blue cone; if you see it done, let an Election Judge know. The Judges should enforce the border, and usually for each couple of precincts, a State's Attorney and a cop are assigned to go for one polling place to another.


3. Taking pamplets into your booth (Related to Electioneering)

While you are not allowed to wear buttons and flash pamplets while waiting in line, you are allowed to take in your notes or other guidance materials in with you. I do that all the time for the Judicial Races.


4. Newly Relocated Resident

Tony - have you re-registered to vote in Illinois at your current address? (I'm making the assumption that you have been back at your current IL for 30 days.) If not, register.

An out of state license should be ok, as long as you have a recent utility bill to back it up. The way Election Judges are suppose to confirm who you say you are is through the signature in the books (that’s why you need to register via paper and why they make you sign when you get to the polls). That is, if you are not subject to a canvas challenge. (This is where a voter card was sent to you but it got returned. You signature sheet will be pink.)

[elisabeth]

So... my name is misspelled on my registration card. I mailed in a correction and it came back spelled exactly the same (incorrect) way.

If I have my IL license, proving my existence and address... will they let me vote? or am I screwed? Is it too late to fix this?

[speedymarie]

So... my name is misspelled on my registration card. I mailed in a correction and it came back spelled exactly the same (incorrect) way.

If I have my IL license, proving my existence and address... will they let me vote? or am I screwed? Is it too late to fix this?

You can register at an early polling place and vote at the same time (through October 21), so it seems like you should be able to "re-register" then and there and vote. The early voting places are kinda busy, so leave yourself a little bit of time. But I would go in and ask them there.

[Jels]

If your signature is valid and/or you can prove you are who you say you are, you can vote.

The judges have a correction book for minor misspellings, transposed numbers, etc.

[elisabeth]

thanks, ladies! i feel better now.