* In past years, the Democratic Party of Illinois opened a hotline on election day to take calls about voting issues. The effort was expanded to a month this year. From DPI…
(T)he Voter Protection Program has received more than 700 calls and helped resolve dozens of voting-related issues. While a majority of the calls relate to vote-by-mail or general election questions, the staff intervened and helped resolve dozens of issues often with the assistance of the State Board of Elections. These include:
Successfully intervening at a Will County early voting location, with the help of local officials, that was plagued by long wait times and even turned potential voters away;
Intervening on the first day of voting when a local election authority incorrectly advised voters that a Drivers’ License was required to vote, which is not the case;
Working with DuPage County election officials to ensure that ballots for disabled voters were made available at an early vote location.
* That Will County instance was interesting. I first heard of it from a legislator’s tweet…
* This e-mail was sent by the Will County Clerk’s chief deputy that afternoon..
To: Kathie Holubek, Crete Township Clerk
Michael Liccar, Crete Township Supervisor
Today was the first day for Early Voting at Crete Township Office Building. Our office has received numerous calls complaining about the long lines and inappropriate procedures taking place at this location. The clerk is making up her own policies for voting that are unlawful and unacceptable and must cease immediately.
I personally trained the Clerk (and staff) and it was never communicated that you can do any of the following:
· No voters should ever be turned away if they have entered your building during the hours you have agreed to for Early Voting
· All voters in line must be allowed to vote
· No phone numbers or lists are to be written down for a call back when they can vote
· No signs should be posted that voting is closed, especially if it is still within the hours you agreed to
As elected officials it is your duty to provide this service to your residents per the guidelines of the agreement you signed (copy attached). The Will County Clerk is asking for you to provide us with a phone number so we can call you after all voting is finished today in Crete to further discuss this matter. We await your response.
*** UPDATE *** That sign requiring a driver’s license to vote was in Cumberland County…
- Texas Red - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:01 pm:
Go straight to the sources by contacting your local county clerk/election commission and the Illinois State Board of Elections.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:14 pm:
And isn’t it swell that the Crete Township Clerk who is making it tough for people to vote legally doesn’t feel the need to answer to anyone on it?
So sad, because I’m sure she has really good reasons.
https://www.theherald-news.com/2018/10/31/voters-complain-of-long-wait-times-at-early-voting-site-in-crete-township/a8ap1c/
- illini - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:15 pm:
Voter suppression is a definite, and documented, tactic across this country. It must be countered forcefully and immediately whenever it occurs.
Every vote vote matters and must be counted.
- Johnny Tractor - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
I think we could reduce egregious abuses like what occurred in Crete, and when public bodies repeatedly violate the Open Meetings Act, if the involved officials had to pay their own legal expenses to defend themselves and pay any fines if they’re found guilty. Let a jury decide if the act was willful and deserving of financial sanction. As it is, the threat of removal from office isn’t sufficient motivation, so not only do constituents have our rights imperiled, but we get to pay for the privilege of defending these abuses as well.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:30 pm:
Does this mean she hasn’t retired?
https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/crete/kathie-holubek-retires/article_3e69c422-49f1-52d4-b977-36efda95b2ae.html
- Credit - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
Texas Red - have you ever tried calling the clerks office on Election Day? Good luck
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
–Does this mean she hasn’t retired?–
Nothing gets past you. Except the contents from this thread, a link from two days ago and the Crete Township website.
Thanks for the link from four years ago. But it’s really not the point.
http://cretetownship.com/officials/
- Archiesmom - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
Ten years ago as an election judge I went toe to toe with precinct workers in Will County about the need to produce a drivers license. Nice to see things haven’t changed.
- City Zen - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
==Nothing gets past you.==
Thank you, Literal Pierre.
The point was someone in the township thought Ms. Holubek’s skill set was so essential and irreplaceable that they pulled her out of retirement (she’s collecting a pension) to work for the very office she retired from.
From what I can gather from the township website, this does not appear to be an elected position.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
–That sign requiring a driver’s license to vote was in Cumberland County…–
… and also a willful lie meant to suppress legal votes.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
–The point was…–
You made a point in your original post?
- Lynn S. - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
Do we know where in Cumberland County that sign was at?