CBA Record September-October 2022

PRO BONOWEEK 2022 – EMPOWERING PEOPLE, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Elections in Illinois: ThreeWays to Support Voting Rights By Cli ff Helm

#) !POWsQ/ ZspnU+*5 !/22O))UUg pU uQP) )/ U0*(+U sLL ULOQOrLU '/)U+* Ps'U sWWU** )/ )PU rsLL/)e 9*O0Q s W/22(0O)nf based approach and a racial equity lens, we advocate for voters on election day and throughout the year. Pro bono attor f 0Un* uLL W+O)OWsL +/LU* O0 /(+ p/+M )/ PUL us ensure voters are not prevented from accessing their fundamental right to vote. Besides the mundane things that Ps--U0 *O2-Ln rUWs(*U O)5* VOSuW(L) )/ run an election, elections continue to be hot button issues across the country due to political and cultural polarization. Partisan politics and feelings can drive perspectives on how we think elections should be run, what rules should govern elections, and even which ballots should be counted. In Illinois as in other states, protect f O0Q )PU +OQP) )/ '/)U O* VOSuW(L) p/+M )Ps) requires a collective effort from public /SuWOsL*g Q/'U+02U0) U2-L/nUU*g -s+)f time staff such as election judges, advo f WsWn /+Qs0Oms)O/0*g s0V 0/0f-s+)O*s0 '/L(0)UU+*e bsWP Q+/(- uLL* s 0UWU**s+n role so voters do not face unpredictable

and unsurmountable barriers to voting in an election. Chicago has three elections in the next eight months. There is a lot of work to do to ensure that people can exercise their +OQP) )/ '/)Ue 6/L(0)UU+* S+/2 )PU LUQsL community can play a big part. !POWsQ/ ZspnU+*5 !/22O))UU S/+ !O'OL Rights collaborates with the national Elec f tion Protection coalition to answer phone WsLL* S+/2 '/)U+* WsLLO0Q )PU DFFfA9>f 6A;b P/)LO0Ue 4U )+sO0 s0V *(-U+'O*U legal volunteers answering calls from Illi f nois and Indiana. This call center serves s* s 'O)sL 0/0f-s+)O*s0 */(+WU /S O0S/+2sf tion for voters who have questions about how to vote. 6/)U+* WsLL pO)P O**(U* +s0QO0Q S+/2

Illinois Elections ^0 )PU pUUM* LUsVO0Q (- )/ )PO* -s*) ](0U5* primary election, the Chicago Board of Elections announced that it would not be opening 73 precincts on election day. The Board cited challenges in locating facili f ties willing to host election day and an O0srOLO)n )/ u0V U0/(QP ULUW)O/0 N(VQU*e Additionally, on election day, 56 precincts opened late, with a few of those opening in the early hours of the afternoon. A0 ULUW)O/0 Vsng !POWsQ/ ZspnU+*5 Committee for Civil Rights worked with volunteers to answer questions from '/)U+* WsLLO0Q O0)/ )PU DFFfA9>f6A;b hotline. We heard from voters throughout the morning that they were frustrated by the late opening polling places and won f dering where (or if) they could go to vote. #L)P/(QP )PU+U ps* s rsWMf(- -Ls0 S/+ voters who encountered closed polling -LsWU* T WO)nf/-U+s)UV <90O'U+*sL @/LLO0Q @LsWU*g: sr/() /0U -U+ ps+Vg pPU+U s0n voter could vote – did help, we may never know how many people might not have '/)UV rUWs(*U /S )PU WL/*UV /+ Ls)Uf/-U0f ing precincts.

32 September/October 2022