Chapter 10 — The Most Common Challenges

1. Asking For Identification to Vote

Illinois does not require an ID to vote.

Some judges will still ask for an ID. Challenge it.

A little history here: Some election judges have been working elections for years, before voter ID laws were enacted in other states. Some election judges developed a routine. Election judges who asked for IDs in the past sometimes forget. Some election judges disagree with not requiring ID to vote. It does not matter to the poll watcher why the judge asks for an ID, challenge it.

A voter only has to give his or her name (also, address if requested). An election judge should be able to locate the voter by the first four letters of the voter‘s last name and the first four letters of the voter‘s first name.

A voter can offer their ID. Many voters will have their ID in their hand as they move towards the table to sign in. Even if the voter has their ID in their hand, the election judge cannot ask or gesture to see the ID.

The voter has to offer the ID.

Problems Hearing

Note: With the use of masks and shields, an election judge may have a hard time hearing the voter. It is acceptable for the election judge to ask the voter to repeat themselves, talk slower, or talk louder.

On the other hand, an election judge cannot claim a hearing problem as a reason for asking for identification. It is the election judge‘s employer, the state, which is responsible for making a reasonable accommodation for a disability, not the voter.

2. Problems Locating a Voter in the Voter Rolls

If there is a problem locating a voter in the voter rolls, an election judge can request an ID to resolve the problem.

If there is a problem that requires an ID, the poll watcher should already be standing next to the voter to observe the resolution of the problem.

Usually, the election judge can resolve the problem. If these problems become unexpectedly frequent, challenge it. Ask to see the computer screen that is giving the election judge the problem.