ESSENTIALS TOOLS FOR ELECTION JUDGES & POLL WATCHERS
(take these to the polls with you, either printed copies or on phone or tablet)
- Poll Watchers Guide (2019) most recent version, downloaded from the Illinois State Board of Elections. A very good resource to take to the polls, because it cites the statutes from the election code: AGuideForPollwatchers_637855698730836036.pdf
- IL SBoE 2024 Precinct Election Manual (Election Judge Manual) – the official guide on how to conduct the election for Election Judges working in the polling place. A very good resource to take to the polls, because it cites the statutes from the election code:
2024 IL SBoE Election Judge Manual - IL SBoE 2022 Guide for Election Authorities – the official guide on how to conduct the election for County Clerks/Election Authorities. A very good resource to take to the polls, because it cites the statutes from the election code. [NOTE: Unfortunately, the 2022 edition was the most recent edition available on the IL SBoE website as of 03-01-2024. We suspect the IL SBoE does not want the average voter, Election Judge or Poll Watcher to have access to the official guide from the state to the Election Authorities regarding how those EA should be conducting elections!]. Download:
ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022ElectionAuthorityGuide_637855669372857044.pdf
- Poll Watchers and Election Judges: You are BOTH protected by Federal Law from being intimidated, harassed, etc. Download this copy of Federal Law 18 U.S. Code Section 245. Print it and have it with you when you poll watch. Pertinent sections are highlighted in yellow. Show it to anyone who attempts to intimidate you. Calmly let them know they are committing a felony.
Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)5 ILCS 140/5
- All election-related files must be retained by the election authority for 22 months per 52 US Code 20701 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title52-section20701&num=0&edition=prelim
- A video series on FOIA by the Better Government Association (BGA) can be viewed here: https://bettergov.org/news/how-to-file-a-foia-request-in-illinois/ (scroll to bottom of the web page for the 3-part video series).
- How To File A Freedom Of Information Act Request In Illinois https://www.illinoispolicy.org/how-to-file-a-freedom-of-information-act-request-in-illinois/
Samples of Publicly Available Data
- 2017 Judicial Watch listed counties in which the number of registered voters exceeded the number of voting-age citizens https://www.judicialwatch.org/judicial-watch-warns-11-states-clean-voter-registration-lists-face-federal-lawsuit/
- Seth Keshel Heat Map https://electionfraud20.org/seth-keshel-reports/illinois/
- Dr. Frank — Voters vs. Votes Counted https://frankspeech.com/video/part-two-new-information-voter-fraud-dr-doug-frank
Cleaning Voter Rolls
- “Let Them Rest in Peace (RIP)” ICU Initiative https://www.ieip.org/
- 2021 Instructions for Precinct Committeemen to cleanup Voter Rolls https://www.ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PC-2021_6_13-voter-roll-cleanup.pdf
Understanding Excel Data
- Excel Training Videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/Trumpexcel
Be an election Geek – Browse through (or even read!) the Election Code
- Election Code for the State of Illinois, (10 ILCS 5/). https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=170
Poll Watchers
Candidates are generally allowed 2 PWs in every polling location where he/she is on the ballot (see statutes). Candidates can provide PW Credentials for all of their PWs. They obtain these credentials from the election authorities (most often County Clerks) where they are running.
Tally Sheet for Election Judges / Poll Watchers
- Unofficial hourly tally sheet to help check numbers of voters and numbers of ballots every hour while working in the polling location
https://www.ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Early-Voting-Election-Day-Polling-Location-Hourly-Audit-Form.pdf
Sample Incident / Affidavit forms
- Click “ICU/IEIP Incident Report” tab on menu tabs across top of page. Below the instructions you will find links to forms.
Signature Verification
- Signature Verification Training, Presented by The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division, April 2019 (45 minutes. Courtesy of Ed Ronkowski). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKiYGONnNT0&ab_channel=ElectionsDivision
Top Ten Action Items for Honest Elections + Local Task Force Overview
https://www.ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/05-04-22_Guardians-Overview-Top-Ten.pdf
Illinois – on-line Voter Registration
- Illinois Voter Registration look-up https://ova.elections.il.gov/registrationlookup.aspx
- Illinois Online Voter Registration https://ova.elections.il.gov/ (not shown in the “Guardians” book)
2022 Remap
In accordance with the US Constitution, our country conducts a census ever ten years. As a result of the 2020 Census, Federal, state and county districts are re-drawn. Find your newly assigned districts on the following maps:
- Final Congressional Map (federal House): http://google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1qfnRiuOZ3yok6WGvBHZ9P6u3EMy_LwRv&hl=en
- Final Illinois State House Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1nOcVLoJolaZADr3MhaKr4PUTjNzKPbjH&ll=41.719209184572065%2C-87.77614676036052&z=9
- Final Illinois State Senate Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/viewer?ll=41.61149042022266%2C 88.40276560546876&z=10&mid=1X9lSD13vTX_-4oIyWqstGk8e1VFGJ_i2
Illinois Election Statutes (Law)
- Illinois Constitution: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/conmain.htm
- Illinois Election Code: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs2.asp?ChapterID=3&T=637080246007679178
- Illinois – National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter): https://www.elections.il.gov/Misc/MotorVoter.aspx
- Illinois – Vote by Mail: https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/votebymail.pdf
- Vote by Mail – Article 19 (Annotated 2017, pages 491-506
- Illinois – Health Care Facility Voting: https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/HealthCareFacilityVoting.pdf
- Illinois – Pollwatchers: https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/pollwatchers.pdf
- Illinois – Election Judges: https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/electionjudges.pdf
Other Useful Election Links
- Illinois State Board of Elections: https://www.elections.il.gov/#News
- GAO report – wealth of information.
https://www.gao.gov/mobile/products/GAO-14-46 - Publications currently available from the Illinois State Board of Elections https://www.elections.il.gov/Main/Publications.aspx
- IL State Board of Elections “Information for Voters Menu”, including a link to all Voting Systems and Equipment used throughout Illinois
https://www.elections.il.gov/InformationForVoters.aspx?MID=I0cuvBFuZRw%3d
Reports/Blogs from our Volunteers
- Ominous Sleeper Provisions Lurk in the 2021 Omnibus Law https://www.ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Legislative-Corner-A