Early Voting Begins in Chicago and Cook County

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Election board official tells voters what to expectby Lesley R. Chinn

Voter registration polls are the gatewayto voting. A citizen cannot voteunless they are on the polls. However,there have been some instances instates where voters have beenremoved from the polls.

According to the Brennan Center forJustice, a local election official inMississippi discovered that anotherofficial had wrongly purged 10,000voters from her home computer just aweek before the presidential primary.

Another report revealed that a countyofficial in Muscogee, GA., purged700 people from voter lists, becausethey were ineligible to vote due tocriminal convictions. The list alsoincluded people who never evenreceived a parking ticket.

When told about the incidents foundin the Brennan report, Jim Allen, aspokesman for the Chicago Board ofElections said that Illinois voters willnot have to worry about such incidents.

We remove people from the voterregistration lists if they have moved,but when it comes down to criminalconvictions, we dont have that lawhere. If youve paid your debt to societyand served your time, youre ok toregister to vote again in Illinois.

Allen said that the most importantthing for individuals to do is to makesure their voter registration status isupdated. They can do this by visitingthe Chicago Board of Elections site atwww.chicagoelections.com if theylive in the city. For suburban residents,they can visit the Cook CountyClerks site atwww.voterinfonet.com. Voters can enter their names and addresses toinquire about the status of registrations.

If an individuals name is not foundon the voter registration poll, they canstill register to vote during a votergrace period, which last until October21, according to Allen. They can registerin person at the Election Board at69 W. Washington or at any of thecounty courthouses.

Voters are also required to get a provisionalballot if they show up onElection Day and they show proofthat they are registered to vote.For those who are avoiding the rushon Election Day, which is November4, voters in Chicago and CookCounty can participate in early votingbetween now and October 30.

There are 51 early voting locationsset up citywide and 43 throughout thesuburbs of Cook County on Mondaysthrough Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. Early voters can vote onSundays at the Board of Elections at69 W. Washington from 9 a.m. toNoon. To inquire about the locations,visit: www.chicagoelections.com orwww.voterinfonet.com.

According to state law, electioneeringis not allowed within 100 feet of apolling place. This includes engagingin any political discussion, solicitingof votes, or interrupting a personsright to vote within the area.

People are still free to speak, butthey just have to move out of earshotof the voters. You cant be disruptingthe polling place. It has to be free ofcampaign activity, Allen said.

However, on Election Day, which isNovember 4, voters must vote in theward or suburb in which they are registered.If voters feel like they arebeing intimidated at the polls, theycan call Election Central on ElectionDay at (312) 269-7870. During theearly voting period, call (312) 269-7900.

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