It is up to every citizen to help insure the integrity of our elections. Everyone can help to maintain accurate voter rolls and honest elections by accurately reporting election incidents. These may involve Vote by Mail applications or ballots, Early Voting and/or voting in person at your assigned polling location on Election Day.
If you are a firsthand witness to an election incident, use the Incident Report Form (linked below) to document all information while the details are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Dates, times, places, names of the people involved can quickly slip from our minds during incidents.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD INCIDENT REPORT FORM
Thoroughly complete the form with as much detail about the incident as possible.
Download the form HERE.
Hearsay, rumor & innuendo will not stand up in court. An affidavit may help in court, if completed, signed & dated. Download a blank affidavit at this link: https://www.ieip.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Affidavit-for-IL.pdf
Once you have completed the Incident Report form:
- If you are a poll watcher who was issued credentials from a political party or candidate, report incidents to that party, candidate or other issuing authority.
- If you are an Election Judge, report incidents to the local Election Authority who trained & assigned you. In most Illinois counties, that authority is your County Clerk’s office. In some larger IL counties, there is a separate Election Commission (click here to find your local election authority).
- If you are a voter, take a photo of the completed report and email it to and/or call your chosen political party to report the incident.
- Your chosen political party might have a “hot line”, special website or email address where you can report incidents. Research that before the start of any voting and keep it on hand.
- If you believe no satisfactory resolution is forthcoming, contact your County Sheriff or County State’s Attorney’s office.
- Note: The letters “VBM” indicate “Vote by Mail”.
A FEW TIPS TO HELP ACCURATE REPORTING
- If any VBM applications or ballots are delivered to your address in error, do NOT discard them!
- Take photos of all sides & panels of the VBM application or ballot and keep images in case they are needed in the future.
- Complete our ICU/IEIP Incident Report form (linked above). Print a copy for yourself and a copy to deliver to the election authority.
- Along with the Incident Report form, bring along any necessary supporting information. For example: ballot applications or ballots mailed to you in error; a copy of the death certificate if the election item was delivered in the name of a deceased family member; or property transfer information if you purchased the home and the election mail is addressed to a previous owner.
Thank you for your help toward ensuring honest elections.