Under Construction

Chapter 12   The Central Counting Facility

C. Scheduling Poll Watchers

Scheduling poll watchers for the central counting facility is going to be daunting, since it will take during business hours over multiple days. And it is not only the poll watcher that needs to be scheduled but the poll watcher team, as well.

72 Day Span of Poll Watchers Needed (not counting voter registration)

   40 days before the election
+ election day
+ 31 days* after the election
_______________________________
72 days of poll watchers needed

* likely only 14 days after the election

The need for poll watchers may begin as soon as 40 days before the election — through Election Day — to the fourteenth day after the election when counting ends and a winner is declared.

It is unlikely, but not impossible, that poll watchers may be needed up to 31 days after an election in the case of challenges.

Counting Sessions

The election authority (e.g., the County Clerk or the Board of Election commissioners) must give 24 hours notice before the count begins; the count can begin as early as 8:00PM election night.

The election authority is required to post on their website - with 24 hour notice - the date, time, and location of each counting sessions at the central county facility.

Request To Be Notified

There is an option to request be be notified by the election authority.

Each poll watcher team should decide how to handle notification.

Illinois — 2022 Election