6.A. Entering the Polling Place
On Election Day, polls in Illinois open at 6:00 a.m.
Election Judges assemble one hour earlier, at 5:00 a.m.
Poll watchers enter the Polling Place with the Election Judges. No excuses.
When the Election Judges enter, the location changes from a public space to a Polling Place, and all rules governing the Polling Place are in force.
The poll watcher's primary duty before the polls open is to witness the examination of the ballot box or tabulator and to confirm that all voting machine counters are set to zero.
This is why it is critical for a poll watcher to arrive on time and present credentials before the polls open.
Members of the public may be present in the Polling Place to witness the examination of the ballot box or tabulator, but they must leave before the polls open.
Relevant Illinois State Law
Before voting begins, the ballot box shall be emptied and shall be opened and shown to those present to be empty, after which it shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the primary judges, and such ballot box shall not be removed from public view from the time it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls.
10 ILCS 5/7-40(a), this link opens in a new browser tab.
Before voting begins, the ballot box shall be publicly opened and exhibited, and the judges shall see that no ballot is in such box; after which the box shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the judges, and shall not be again opened until the close of the polls.
10 ILCS 5/17-3(a), this link opens in a new browser tab.
Before voting begins in such municipalities the ballot box shall be empty; and shall be opened and shown to those present to be empty, after which it shall be locked and the key delivered to one of the judges, and it shall not be removed from public view from the time when it is shown to be empty until after the close of the polls. It shall remain locked and shall not be again opened until after the close of the polls.
10 ILCS 5/18-3(a), this link opens in a new browser tab.
Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to carefully check the voting machine and its protective devices, and ballot labels and registering counters, before the polls may be declared open on election morning, and they shall be permitted to remain in the polling place at all times throughout the conduct of the election if desired, and after the close of the polls, to be present and check the protective devices and registering counters of each voting machine, and the official return sheets thereof.
10 ILCS 5/24-8, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to closely observe the judges in these procedures and to periodically inspect the equipment when not in use by the voters to see that the ballot labels are in proper position and have not been marked upon or mutilated.
10 ILCS 5/24A-8, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to closely observe the judges in these procedures and to periodically inspect the Precinct Tabulation Optical Scan Technology equipment when not in use by the voters.
10 ILCS 5/24B-8, this link opens in a new browser tab.
Pollwatchers as provided by law shall be permitted to closely observe the judges in these procedures and to periodically inspect the Direct Recording Electronic Voting System equipment when not in use by the voters.
10 ILCS 5/24C-8, this link opens in a new browser tab.