Chapter 10 — The Most Common Problems
B. Grace Period Registration & Changes in Registration
1. What the Poll Watchers Sees
- Most of the problems which arise with registration are at the polling place are covered:
- Checking Your Registration
- Who can vote?
- Documentation Needed To Register To Vote
Registration of Naturalized Citizens.
It is a small exception, but worth noting.
While registering in the polling place during the grace period, the election judge will ask the voter a list of questions that appear on the registration form.
One question is if the voter is a naturalized citizen.
If the person registering answers that they are a naturalized citizen, the next question is, "Where were you naturalized?"
This question sometimes confuses the person answering.
Most naturalization ceremonies take place in a federal courthouse.
Most often, the answer will be "Chicago", since that is the federal courthouse in Illinois with the most naturalizations ceremonies.
- But it can also be:
- Springfield, Urbana, Benton, East St. Louis, St. Louis, Rockford, Rock Island, Alton, or Peoria.
- As with St. Louis, it could be out of state.
- It could also have been in a special naturalization ceremony in a city without a federal courthouse.
A poll watcher should assist the voter if there is confusion about the question.
An odd answer will not merit a challenge, but it is worth keeping in the back of your mind.