Kane County State’s attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced that her office fielded and responded to 12 complaints submitted through the office’s Election Day Hotline during November 3rd’s General Election.Two calls were related to electioneering, two calls were related to campaign signs, three calls were related to ballots, and five calls concerned polling place facilities and election judges.
All twelve complaints were resolved successfully by the SAO’s assistant state’s attorneys (ASAs), who worked with voters and election judges to ensure that Illinois law was being followed. In addition, ASAs visited each polling place in the county to ensure compliance with the Illinois Election Code and to advise election judges of their availability to provide legal assistance.
“Free and fair elections are fundamental to our democracy, and I am proud of the work our assistant state’s attorneys did to address concerns and help ensure a smooth election day on Tuesday,” said State’s attorney Mosser. “I want to thank the Kane County Clerk’s Office, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, and our local law enforcement partners for their cooperation in supporting voters and election judges throughout the county. My office remains committed to addressing any additional concerns brought to our attention.”
Details about the complaints:
Electioneering
•Two callers reported individuals electioneering inside the 100-foot campaign-free zone at polling places. ASAs explained the rules regarding campaign-free zones and worked with election judges to ensure there was no improper electioneering.
Campaign signs
•Two callers reported campaign signs that appeared to be in campaign-free zones. ASAs worked with election judges at those locations to ensure compliance with the law.
Ballots
•One caller had a question about their voter registration address. ASAs reviewed the voter’s information and assisted them in successfully casting their ballot. The voter was referred to the Clerk’s office for any further questions.
•One caller reported having not received their mail-in ballot. ASAs verified that the mail-in ballot had been requested and sent to the voter on-time, weeks prior to election day.
•One caller reported that a ballot looked different than expected. ASAs and election judges verified that the voter had received the correct ballot style.
Polling place facilities and election judges
•One caller was concerned by an individual who, upon arrival, informed election judges that he was there to “work on” election equipment. ASAs contacted the location’s election judges and confirmed that they had requested and received technical support from an election worker.
•One caller encountered an issue while assisting their disabled family member in voting. ASAs worked with the voters and election judges to ensure compliance with election law.
•One caller reported that an election judge had advised someone they knew to vote at one polling place as opposed to another, and that this concerned them. They also reported that someone they knew had observed election judges instructing prospective voters to have their ID’s ready. This incident was not reported by the actual voter but was nonetheless recorded.
•One election judge called to request assistance with a demonstrator outside their polling location. ASAs spoke with the demonstrator, ensured that they were more than 100 feet from the polling place, and reminded them of the law around electioneering. ASAs instructed voters to direct their voting questions to election judges inside. The election judge was told to call the hotline should any additional disruptions occur.
•One caller reported being asked for their political party on the yellow half sheet during the sign-in process. Election judges were advised of the situation and followed procedure pursuant to their training. No further complaints were received.
—Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office