Election Fraud: Report Irregularities To Will County Hotline

WILL COUNTY, IL — Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow is urging residents to report election irregularities to his Election Fraud Hotline. On Election Day — Tuesday — citizens are encouraged to report inappropriate activity, such as passing out campaign literature or other acts of electioneering either inside or too close to polling places.

The Will County Election Fraud Hotline numbers are (815) 727-8758 or (815) 727-8872.

According to his office, Glasgow has also assigned two-person teams, each consisting of one assistant state’s attorney and one investigator, to travel to polling places where irregularities are reported on Election Day. Assistant state’s attorneys not assigned to specific teams will be available for dispatch from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office to investigate allegations of election irregularities reported to the hotline.

Everything To Know About The Illinois 2018 Midterm Elections

Tell Patch If You See Shenanigans At The Polls

Election issues have already been reported in Will County. In Crete Township, one voter said the polls did not open on time on the first afternoon of early voting, that it took hours to cast her ballot and that dozens of residents were told to fill out a sign-in sheet before voting, according to the Chicago Tribune. Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots — who is overseeing her last election before retiring — said she sent a staffer to Crete Township the second day of early voting to ensure things went more smoothly. She said township staffers were also given a "refresher" on early voting rules.

In nearby DuPage County, faulty machines reportedly switched votes to the wrong candidate during early voting. Election officials said the broken machines have since been replaced. That issue comes after DuPage County's election commission faced criticism during the March primaries after results were delayed for hours due to a malfunction with hardware provided by an outside vendor.

Patch is partnering with ProPublica’s Electionland project, and we want to know if you see any shenanigans at the polls today. Here’s how you can report what you see:

• SMS: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 81380 (standard text messaging rates apply).
• WhatsApp: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 1-850-909-8683.
• Facebook Messenger: Go to m.me/electionland.
• You can also submit a tip through this form.

Voter rights and polling place rules

If you're already registered to vote, you do not need to show your ID in order to cast your ballot — you only need to state your name and address. However, there are limited circumstances in which a voter can be asked for identification, including those who are registering on Election Day, and those voting for the first time after registering by mail. But even in those instances, a voter without ID may cast a provisional ballot, according to the ACLU of Illinois.

People with criminal records in Illinois — including felonies — are eligible to vote once they have completed their sentences (but should re-register to vote upon their release). That includes people who are on probation or parole. Those who have been arrested or charged with a crime but not convicted can also vote, including many of those being held in county jail.

All campaigning and electioneering — "working in support of, against or in opposition to, or in the interest of a candidate, party, or proposition" — is prohibited within 100 feet of any polling place. That means the following are prohibited, according to the Illinois Election Commission:

• Any political discussion
• Wearing a campaign shirt, button, hat or any other item that is electioneering
• Displaying or distributing any political literature or brochure
• Exception: Sample ballots MAY BE taken into the polling place

The Illinois Board of Elections outlines several "signs of suspicious behavior" at the polls:

• Money changing hands in or near the polls
• Someone passing a folded piece of paper or card to a voter who hides it on his/her person
• Intoxicaterd voters being given assistance in the voting booth
• Election judges from both major parties not represented in the polling place
• The judges of election are not in control of the polling place; for example, if you see someone giving orders to the election judges

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