By Mrs. Kyra DaSilva
North Aurora
With so many emotional topics tied to this year’s presidential election and so many changes to our daily lives due to the ongoing global pandemic, it is easy to become overwhelmed about voting. I have been an election judge ever since graduating high school and now I teach civics to this generation of young voters. I’d like to offer some recommendations for first-timers and returning voters, alike.
If you are going to vote in person: Please wear a mask, bring your own pen (blue or black ink only please) and bring your own hand sanitizer. While in most places these things will be provided for you, it is best to be prepared. Do not wear/bring clothing, signs, or other paraphernalia linked to any candidate or political party to the polls. Electioneering is not allowed within 100 feet of the polling place and you will be asked to remove/cover these things, or leave.
If you are voting by mail (known as an “absentee ballot”) please mark the boxes clearly by filling them in completely with blue or black ink. Do not put an X or checkmark in the box, color it in completely. Do not over-vote by marking more than one candidate for a single position. Read carefully to make sure you’ve voted for each item on the ballot. Make sure to sign the ballot envelope where it is marked to do so and try to have your signature look the same as the one you provided when you registered to vote. It is what we check your signature with to verify your identity.
If you applied to get a mail ballot, but later decide to go vote in person, we will have to call in and check to see if you turned in a mail ballot, so please be patient. If you have it, please bring your mail ballot with you to turn in so the election judges can void it. This will help the election judges immensely when doing all our paperwork later to ensure each person has voted only once.
No matter how you choose to vote, please remember to do the following:
• Research all the candidates and items on the ballot before choosing. If you’re not sure where to find information about them, check their official candidate websites, the Kane County Election Commission website, justfacts.votesmart.org, and for judges, isba.org
• Double-check where your polling place is; it doesn’t matter if you’ve always voted in the same place. It can, and does often, change!
• Be patient with the election judges and others in the line. We are all doing the best we can to make this whole process run smoothly and fairly. Do your part by social-distancing and handling difficult situations with grace. It means being prepared to wait.
Do have pride in taking part in your country’s election and exercising your civic duty to vote. Individuals just like you are who make this country great!