Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Board of Elections states the obvious to the clueless
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Board of Elections states the obvious to the clueless

Thursday, Oct 20, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller

* It’s sad that they even have to do this…

The State Board of Elections has received inquiries from voters, the media and public interest groups concerning the integrity of the November 8, 2016, General Election. The State Board of Elections wishes to assure voters that the allegations of a “rigged” election are completely unfounded. A brief overview of the election process illustrates the numerous safeguards built into the election system to secure the integrity of the voting machines and tabulation of election results.

Initially, the Voting and Registration Systems Division of the State Board of Elections thoroughly tests the voting equipment to ensure compliance with both Federal and State standards prior to approving its use in Illinois elections, and also conducts testing of the voting equipment prior to each Election. This testing takes place in jurisdictions selected by the State Board of Elections both randomly and in those jurisdictions where it is deemed advisable due to any problems in previous elections, and is open to the public.

Each of the 109 election authorities in the State must conduct errorless pre-tests of its automatic tabulating equipment and program to verify that they will correctly count the votes for all offices and public questions. A copy of that program is filed with the State Board prior to the election. Thereafter, not less than 5 days prior to Election Day, the election authority must publicly test the equipment. The public test of the equipment takes place at a minimum of 48 hours after notice is published, and is open to the public and all interested parties.

Following these mandatory public tests, the voting equipment and memory cards are locked and sealed in tamper-proof containers until Election Day. The containers are unlocked and unsealed on Election Day in the presence of the election judges and any authorized watchers that are present. If any tampering has occurred, it would be evident at that time.

In addition to the mandatory testing, the law requires training for all citizens who serve as election judges. Each election authority must establish a 4-hour training course for its judges. Also, the State Board of Elections conducts schools for the training of election judges throughout the State of Illinois. These schools, conducted by Board staff, are well-attended and on-going. Between July 25, 2016, and November 2, 2016, there are 62 schools scheduled.

Significantly, on Election Day the polling places are staffed by 5 judges – composed of both Democrats and Republicans - in each precinct. There are approximately 10,000 precincts in Illinois, which translates to 50,000 election judges present to assure the integrity of the process. Additionally, authorized poll watchers are eligible to be present in each precinct.

Following the close of the polls, the election judges process the ballots in the presence of all the judges and any authorized poll watchers in attendance.

Elections in Illinois are conducted not by the State Board of Elections, but by each of the 109 election jurisdictions. Thus, an attempt to “rig” the election would require involvement with multiple jurisdictions. The results from each of the precincts are totaled by each election jurisdiction and there is no connection to the internet. There is a paper trail in Illinois for each ballot cast, by whatever means it is cast.

Following the election, in those jurisdictions where in-precinct counting equipment is used, the election authority retabulates the total number of votes cast in 5% of the precincts within the election jurisdiction, as well as 5% of the voting devices used in early voting.

Any voter who is concerned about the integrity of the election process may want to consider becoming an election judge. Election authorities are always seeking election judges and serving as such allows the voter to experience first-hand the system from the opening of the precinct to the tabulation of the results. Voters may also consider volunteering as a pollwatcher though to do so they must be affiliated with a candidate, political party or civic organization engaged in overseeing the election process.

The State Board of Elections will provide updates, as necessary, prior to the General Election.

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

* Earlier today, I asked the SBE and the Chicago Board of Elections about this Russian Television story

The US has rejected a Russian proposal to send diplomats to monitor the upcoming presidential elections and some states have even threatened to bring criminal charges against any that appear at ballot stations, Russian election officials report.

Sources in the Central Elections Commission have told Izvestia daily that its representatives held a series of talks with the US State Department to discuss sending a delegation of monitors to US polling stations on November 8. US officials categorically rejected even the possibility of such a mission, however, instead recommending that Russia join the international mission of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The request was also rejected on a state level, and in three states – Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas – officials used “very harsh formulas” to do so, the sources said. “In violation of all principles of democracy and international monitoring, in Texas they even threatened to hold monitors who appear at ballot stations criminally responsible,” they added.

I was told that neither board received such a request from the Russians. And, by the way, good on Texas.

       

43 Comments
  1. - siriusly - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:32 pm:

    Yes, sad, but it’s good that they issued this statement. This baloney needs to be countered with facts.

    BTW Governor Rauner - it might be nice for you to to talk about our state election systems. Or maybe a joint presser with the county clerks? People want confidence in the system, and it’s better to reassure before. After the votes are counted it will be too late to assure anyone who disputes the results.

    Since the GOP presidential candidate is the one raising the questions, maybe the Republican governor and our Republican congressmen who are elected here in Illinois could help put people’s minds at ease and respond to the nonsense. Was our election system “rigged” when Bruce Rauner won the Governor’s mansion in a “Blue” state ?


  2. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:32 pm:

    And how’s that “investigation” into the Great Kankakee Voter Fraud Caper going?


  3. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:40 pm:

    So, if I read all this correctly, millions of people will be fanning out across the country under the direction of the Clinton campaign and committing millions of felonies with one-off, in-person voter impersonations, enough to throw an election in which somewhere around 130 million people will vote?

    Sounds reasonable.

    I bet the Russkies are embarrassed they didn’t get a hold of the planning and execution docs for this mass mobilization. Talk about a buddy letting you down, huh Donald?


  4. - Flippy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:47 pm:

    109??? I thought there were only 102 election authorities in the state!

    See, it’s already rigged!!!!1!!

    /s


  5. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:48 pm:

    ===only 102 election authorities===

    Some cities have their own.


  6. - Jon - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:52 pm:

    Facts…not important. I’ve edited the post for conspiracy theorists: “polling places are staffed by 5 judges composed of Democrats who retabulate the total number of votes cast after talks with the US State Department”.


  7. - Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:53 pm:

    I would love to see my Texican friend confront a Russian election monitor.


  8. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 3:58 pm:

    I’d love to see the code for those election machines. It’s neither open source, nor audited. This is 2016. Voter fraud can be done by few and their work can affect many. I’d need a keyboard and a few friends.


  9. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:00 pm:

    –I’d need a keyboard and a few friends.–

    Geez, what is that, a cry for help? Pretty grim, if you don’t have those already.


  10. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:01 pm:

    Your Commie has no regard for human life, not even his own. And for this reason, men, I want to impress upon you the need for extreme watchfulness. The enemy may come individually, or he may come in strength. He may even come in the uniform of our own troops. But however he comes, we must stop him. We must not allow him to gain entrance to our polling places.


  11. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:04 pm:

    47, the Russkie voter monitoring is just a ruse. They want to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.


  12. - Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:04 pm:

    Inside the library at Cesar Chavez Middle School, 700 S. 15th St, Waco, TX, also known as precinct 5 polling place:

    здравствуйте comrade.
    We are here to monitor your American style voting process.
    Just wondering, will we be voting for Mr. Trump today?


  13. - @MisterJayEm - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:06 pm:

    Uh, 47, 47, listen… tell me, tell me, 47. When did you first… become… well, develop this theory?

    – MrJM


  14. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:11 pm:

    Unless there is some important down the ballot contest that I am unaware of, I do not think any organized vote fraud is likely to occur in Illinois in November.

    I would be watching in battleground states and Illinois is not one of those.


  15. - Huh? - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:14 pm:

    Don’t bother me with the facts, I know the election is rigged because Jill Stein is going to lose the race for President. The media is in on the rigging because they haven’t been covering her race and want her to lose. The entire country has it in for Jill. They don’t want her to be president.

    Sigh. Half /s


  16. - Rabid - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:20 pm:

    It’s not the people who vote it’s who counts the vote (Stalin)


  17. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:21 pm:

    Two thousand and sixteen. 2016, MrJM. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It’s incredibly obvious, isn’t it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious polling places without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That’s the way your hard-core Commie works.


  18. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:26 pm:

    –It’s not the people who vote it’s who counts the vote (Stalin)–

    Ah, a change in the conspiracy. So it’s no longer voter fraud? But fraud by election officials? In every jurisdiction across the country, the state level, ….?


  19. - Someone you should know - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:33 pm:

    Donald Trump and the Idiots he controls :) /S


  20. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:43 pm:

    So if it’s the people controlling the vote totals are the ones stealing the elections, I guess that whole paying election judges is part of the ruse?

    I guess training will be part indoctrination too?

    Many there’s a lot if moving parts to conspiracies.


  21. - Early and Often - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:45 pm:

    I always enjoyed this quotation from “Key Largo” in which Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) explains electioneering:

    “I’ll be back pulling strings to get guys elected mayor and governor before you ever get a 10-buck raise. Yeah, how many of those guys in office owe everything to me. I made them. Yeah, I made ‘em, just like a-like a tailor makes a suit of clothes. I take a nobody, see? Teach him what to say. Get his name in the papers and pay for his campaign expenses. Dish out a lotta groceries and coal. Get my boys to bring the voters out. And then count the votes over and over again til they added up right and he was elected.”


  22. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:47 pm:

    –Many there’s a lot if moving parts to conspiracies. ==

    This is a very complicated case. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder’s head.


  23. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:48 pm:

    –I always enjoyed this quotation from “Key Largo” in which Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) explains electioneering:–

    Well, you know what happened to that guy.


  24. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 4:58 pm:

    ===This is a very complicated case. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder’s head===

    Well, then… Uh. Yeah, uh. Me and, uh, the driver. I’m not handling the money, driving the car and talking on the phone all at the same time… if I get wrapped up in this, I mean.


  25. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:10 pm:

    Well, hey, at least I picked up one of those Trump eggs https://twitter.com/pam53/status/789213186608205824


  26. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:13 pm:

    Good thing you like yours scrambled…


  27. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:13 pm:

    –Well, hey, at least I picked up one of those Trump eggs…–

    A penicillin shot might be in order.


  28. - Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:16 pm:

    Question: If a college student registers and votes in that college town, they are on the record. Since no proof of identity is required should they move to another state and register there, and no proof of identity at the time of voting is required, ?


  29. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:17 pm:

    ===Well, hey, at least I picked up one of those Trump eggs…===

    It’s like a rite of passage, but I’m torn if congratulations are in order…?


  30. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:23 pm:

    I wonder if it ever occurred to any of the brain-trust pushing the “rigged election” narrative that such talk just might discourage many of their own people from voting at all?

    Why bother, if the contest is already “rigged” against you?

    I bet down-ballot GOP candidates have given it some thought.


  31. - PublicServant - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:24 pm:

    Madigan and the college students he controls!


  32. - JS Mill - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:24 pm:

    Man, never thought Trump would go commie. I guess ya learn something new every day.

    Somewhere a village is missing it’s idiot.


  33. - Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:30 pm:

    Ludicrous and if any Russians show up they should send them out on the horse shirtless Putin rode in on and politely revoke their diplomatic status. That part about all the precincts having judges of both parties, really of both parties anyway, is a tad wishful thinking though.


  34. - Rabid - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:44 pm:

    I don’t think elections are fake we all have to live with the winner. Would it be to hard for the coroner to tell the county clerk the voter expired?


  35. - Bob61571 - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 5:55 pm:

    Don’t forget 1982 Chicago! US Atty Dan Webb found over 100K Fraudulent Votes, and had 63 people convicted. All because a 39th Ward precinct captain broke his promise of a city job. http://bit.ly/MyjDvZ


  36. - TinyDancer(FKASue) - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:29 pm:

    The Russians are coming!
    Has anyone told Alan Arkin about this?


  37. - wordslinger - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 6:51 pm:

    Perhaps “rigged election” is a euphemism for “my opponent is working much harder and smarter than me.”

    –Clinton has more than twice as many field offices as Trump nationwide (489 vs. 207), and her organization dominates Trump’s in every battleground state. Clinton’s offices outnumber Trump’s by 20 in New Hampshire, 22 in Iowa, 20 in Colorado, and 27 in North Carolina. In the states where Trump has opened the most offices, such as Pennsylvania (42), Florida (29) and Ohio (22), Clinton’s advantage remans large: She bests him by 15 offices in Pennsylvania, 39 in Florida and 47 in Ohio. Trump’s ground game is far from nonexistent, but his campaign simply does not have the infrastructure to match Clinton’s capabilities for voter contact and mobilization.–

    http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-clinton-field-offices/


  38. - Flapdoodle - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 7:00 pm:

    Bobb61571 cites an essay by the “Manager, Election Law Reform Initiative and Senior Legal Fellow” at the “Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies.” Who says satire is dead?


  39. - sal-says - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 7:03 pm:

    == “…the clueless” ==

    Yeah, that’d include this year’s version of the ‘Repub’ candidate for Prez. Outstanding. This - Here in America!


  40. - Liberty - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 7:51 pm:

    LOL- The democrats never claim elections are stolen…


  41. - SwingVoter - Thursday, Oct 20, 16 @ 11:19 pm:

    “The democrats never claim elections are stolen”-

    Except in 2000…


  42. - Union Thug Gramma - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 12:02 am:

    ‘“The democrats never claim elections are stolen”-

    Except in 2000…’
    When it was, as was proven after the fact…Selected, not elected Shrub.


  43. - Rabid - Friday, Oct 21, 16 @ 4:17 am:

    The winner in 2000 was picked by those who count the votes?


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Lion Electric struggling, but no state subsidies have yet been paid out
* Question of the day
* Madigan trial roundup: Solis faces first day of cross-examination
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller