Chapter Six — Election Day, Before the Polls Open

Primary
Number of
Poll Watchers
per Precinct
per Party
1
per Candidate
1
per Local Civic Organization
1
Total of 2 organizations
per State Civic Organization
1
Total of 2 organizations
per Ballot Proposition
Proponent & Opponent Groups
1
Statute
10 ILCS 5/7-34
Election Day
Number of
Poll Watchers
per Precinct
per Party
2
per Candidate
2
per Local Civic Organization
1
Total of 2 organizations
per State Civic Organization
1
Total of 2 organizations
per Ballot Proposition
Proponent & Opponent Groups
1
Statute
10 ILCS 5/17-23

While this guide is being updated for the search feature and accessibility; pages marked with "🚧" are still under construction.

  1. Entering the Polling Place, Election Day
    1. Arriving Late
    2. The Public In the Polling Place Before the Polls Open
  2. Presenting Credentials
  3. Examine the Ballot Box/Tabulator
    1. Check That the Seal on the Tabulator Is Intact
    2. Check That the Ballot Box is Empty
    3. Check That the Auxiliary Ballot Box of the Tabulator Is Empty
    4. An Election Judge Runs the Tabulator Zero Tape
    5. Observe Election Judges Signing the Zero Tape
      1. Compare the Sample Ballot To the Actual Ballot
      2. Compare the Zero Tape To the Sample Ballot
      3. Observe the Election Judge Sign And Secure the Zero Tape
    6. Checking the Counter of the Tabulator Is Set to Zero
    7. Locking the Ballot Box/Tabulator
    8. Confirm Ballot Box/Tabulator Is On Public View
  4. Poll Watcher Inspection Voting Machines
    1. Observe the Key Security Envelope Being Opened
    2. Observe the Examination of the Voting Machine by the Election Judges
    3. Check Ballot Labels Are In Place
      1. Check That the Voting Machine Counter Is Set to Zero
      2. Check Voting Machine for Electioneering Material
      3. Check the Ballot Labels
      4. Compare the Facsimile Diagrams to the Ballot Labels
    4. Check for Voting Machine Instructional Aids
      1. Facsimile Diagrams
      2. The Instruction Model
    5. Confirm Voting Machine Is On Public View
  5. Examine the Ballot Marking Devices
    1. Ballot Marking Devices Checklist
  6. 🚧Checking the Voter Booths
  7. 🚧A List of Election Judges & And Their Party Affiliations
  8. 🚧Find A Chair
    1. 🚧Why Sit?
    2. 🚧Am I Required to Sit?
    3. 🚧What If There Is No Place To Sit?
    4. 🚧The Number of Poll Watchers In the Polling Place
  9. 🚧Proclaiming the Polls Open
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While this guide is being updated, pages marked with "🚧" are still under construction.