Chapter 5 — In–Person, In–Precinct Voting

6. Check Election Documents and Security Containers

Before the polls open, check election documents.
• The provisional voting affidavit.
  10ILCS 5/18A-5(b)(2)
• The empty provisional ballot envelopes.
  10ILCS 5/18A-5(b)(6)
  Note: The provisional voting affidavit and the provisional ballot envelope may be combined on one document.
• Returning Military affidavits
  10ILCS 5/17-09
  Note: There are two, separate affidavits, the affidavit which the returning military signs and a supporting affidavit.
• Vote by Mail affidavit, stating that the vote by mail ballot was not received, lost, torn, or mutilated.
  10 ILCS 5/17-09(c)(ii)
• Assisted Voting affidavit.
  10ILCS 5/17-14
  Note: Look for two affidavits, one for the voter requesting assistance and the other affidavit for the person rendering assistance.
  This document may be combined to one affidavit, but it must be signed by both the voter and the person assisting the voter.

Also check the document security containers (eg. envelopes, pouches, boxes).
Make sure that these are empty before the polls open.
• The securable container separately identified and utilized for containing sealed provisional ballot envelopes which will be used to transport the provisional ballots to the central county facility.
  10ILCS 5/18A-5(b)(6)
• The securable container(s) or sealable envelopes used to transport "spoiled", "defective", or "objected to" ballots.
  10 ILCS 5/17-16
  If there are not three separate containers, the poll watcher will ask how the ballots will be transported.
• The securable envelope marked "Duplicated Damaged Ballot".
  10 ILCS 5/27B-10a(2)
• The secured box for return of the ballots.
  10 ILCS 5/27B-10a(2)

Remember, you are not allowed to touch the documents or envelopes. When you need to look inside an envelope, ask the election judge to show you.

Checking the documents does two things:
1. Makes you familiar by sight with the documents used, and
2. Make sure that, like the ballot box, there are no unaccounted ballots.

When you are done, thank the election judge and ask if there are any other documents or security envelopes that you may have missed? This way, when later an election judge pulls out a form requiring the voter to swear allegiance to the moon god Xezaphez, you can get up on your hind legs and say, "Challenge. Pardon me, but I thought you said that there were no other election documents?"