Tomorrow is primary election day in Illinois; also known as Super Tuesday across the country because there are 24 states holding primaries or caucuses on that day. (Incidentally it is also “Fat Tuesday” or Mardi Gras.)

With news that there will be groups like Fox Valley Citizens for Legal Immigration, among others, who will be watching the polls, there may be some information you should know so that you are not intimidated or prevented from casting a ballot.

The first thing to keep in mind that all who come to a polling place on Tuesday must be allowed to cast a vote provided they can give reasonable proof to an official Election Judge that they are eligible and registered to vote.

If an Election Judge cannot locate your name among registered voters, but you can provide identification that could be used as proof of voter eligibility, you can vote via a Provisional Ballot. This is allowable, even in the case where a “poll watcher” has challenged your eligibility.

Election judges are officers of the Circuit Court and have legal authority to conduct the election in the polling place. All judges have equal responsibility and authority.

“Pollwatchers” are not Election Judges.

By majority decision, the judges have the sole power to allow or disallow a challenge to a voter, to cause removal of unauthorized pollwatchers and to limit the number of pollwatchers in the polling place.

So, some information you may want to know about “Pollwatchers” …

Only one pollwatcher each from any “Qualified Citizen Group”, “State Civic Organization” or “Political Party” (or two representing any “Candidate”) may be present at any polling place. They must have registered at least 40 days in advance with the proper election authority.

Within guidelines provided by law, Election Judges may limit the number of pollwatchers if a polling place becomes overcrowded.

Pollwatchers are not allowed to touch any supplies or materials and at no time may pollwatchers be so close to the judges that they interfere with the orderly conduct of the election.

Pollwatchers are really there to observe the Election Judges follow proper procedures when a voter’s registration cannot be validated. They are not to do the work of the Election Judges by seeking to determine voter eligibility themselves.

Some reasons for challenging include the following:

• The voter no longer resides at the address at which he/she is registered.
• The person attempting to vote is not the same person registered.
• The person attempting to vote has already voted.
• The person attempting to vote is not registered to vote.

Election Judges will determine your eligibility to vote at the table.

If you have any problems, you may report them to the Kane County clerk: (630) 232-5990 or if you suspect irregularities, contact the state’s attorney at (630) 208-5328.

If you have witnessed actual or attempted acts of discrimination or intimidation in the
voting process, you may report this to the Civil Rights Division of the United States
Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931.