Above / Early Voting is ongoing through Monday for DuPage County. Voters reported no wait and casting a ballot takes about five minutes at the polling place in the market near Juicy-0s at 2011 S. Washington Street, just south of 87th Street.
DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek aims to assure the voters of DuPage County that the 2020 General Election is being conducted with rigorous oversight and participation from official representatives of the Republican and Democratic Parties.
“The political parties are our office’s partners in election administration,” wrote Kaczmarek in an email late Friday. “Election judges representing the Republican and Democratic parties are the face of the election to voters at the polling place. Maintaining an open line of communication with the leadership of our local political parties is vital to ensuring a smooth and successful election. I appreciate the productive partnership our office has enjoyed throughout this process with DuPage Republican Party Chairman James Zay and Cynthia Borbas, Chair of the DuPage Democratic Party.”
The County Clerk’s office has stayed in close communication with the local political parties to address any questions regarding the process. When the DuPage Republican Party raised concerns regarding a text-highlighting feature of the county’s touchscreen voting machines, senior staff from the DuPage County Clerk’s Office met with members of the DuPage GOP leadership. Staff demonstrated the system in question and explained that it was an impaired-voter assistance feature necessary for the county’s system to comply with the voter access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Stickers were also placed on every voting machine at the Early Voting sites explaining in both English and Spanish that the text-highlighting feature is for impaired voter assistance only and that highlighted selections can by cycled through utilizing the provided keypad, as well as reminding voters to review all ballot selections to ensure accuracy before casting their vote.
The Clerk’s Office responded to concerns of Zay and took steps to provide further clarification, to be sure this election is fair to all the candidates on the ballot.
The Clerk’s Office has similarly worked with the DuPage County Democratic Party to address their questions and concerns.
“In my role of County Clerk and administrator of our elections, I am absolutely committed to treating all parties and all voters fairly,” Kaczmarek stated.
Submitted by the Office of the DuPage County Clerk.
Click Here for PN Election Guide
A full list of voting locations throughout DuPage County is available at www.dupageco.org/election/voting.
A full list of voting locations throughout Will County is available at www.thewillcountyclerk.com/elections.
Editor’s Note / Earlier this week, voters emailed PN with screen shots depicting concerns regarding voting machine irregularities in DuPage County that appeared partisan. Other early voters since have called with updates that election workers were knowledgeable, provided explanations regarding stories in local papers and helped to provide a positive voting experience despite the odds.
Be safe. Follow local protocols at all voting locations.
