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Kane County to use greeters to make voting smoother Nov. 8

Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham hopes things will go a little smoother Election Day than they did in the March primary, with the addition of more help at polling places and improvements in election software.

"We were having long lines," Cunningham said.

Part of that was due to same-day voter registration taking place at the polls. He said his office and the county's information technology staff have been working for months to improve that.

He also has ordered more signs for polling places, directing people where to go.

And for some of the spots, there will be something new: Greeters, to keep things moving.

The greeters can direct voters to the appropriate tables for registration or for signing in to vote. They will also point people to open booths, and make sure people enter and exit through the proper doors.

Among the greeters will be members of the League of Women Voters from the Central Kane County and Elgin Area branches.

Patti Lackman of Batavia, voter services chairman for the Central Kane group, said volunteers from both groups will turn over the pay they receive to the Leagues.

The money will go to their education funds, which pay for costs such as printing signs and renting halls for candidate forums, Lackman said.

Cunningham could not say how many greeters would be hired nor what they will be paid.

His office operates 115 polling places for 228 precincts.

Polling places in Aurora are run by the Aurora Election Commission.

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