Chapter 7. Election Day, While the Polls Are Open

7.E. Ballot Application Station

7.E.8. Election Judge Initialing the Ballot Application

Once the Election Judge determines that the signatures match, the Election Judge will initial the ballot application and direct the voter toward the ballot station.

According to local practice, either the Election Judge at the Ballot Application Station or the Election Judge at the ballot station will number the ballot application.

looking  What the Poll Watcher Is Looking For

Some Election Judges may decide to initial ballot applications ahead of time and present the voter with a ballot application that has already been initialed.

That is an immediate challenge.

The ballot application is only initialed by the Election Judge after:

  1. The voter confirms that the information is correct,
  2. The voter signs the ballot application, and
  3. The Election Judge compares the signatures and determines that they match.

By initialing the ballot application, the Election Judge is acknowledging that these steps were completed.

Relevant Illinois State Law

One of the judges of election shall check the certificate of such applicant for a ballot after the registration record has been examined, and shall sign his initials on the certificate in the space provided therefor, and shall enter upon such certificate the number of the voter in the place provided therefor, and make an entry in the voting record space on the registration record, to indicate whether or not the applicant voted. Such judge shall then hand such certificate back to the applicant in case he is permitted to vote, and such applicant shall hand it to the judge of election in charge of the ballots.

10 ILCS 5/4-22
Counties Having a
Population of Fewer Than 500,000

10 ILCS 5/5-29
Counties Having a
Population of Fewer Than 500,000

10 ILCS 5/6-66
Jurisdictions With
Local Boards of Election Commissioners

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