State’s attorney’s office will staff election complaint hotline

It’s not Chicago or North Korea or communist China, but problems can occur with suburban elections, particularly if you have 228 voting precincts in your county and a buffet of candidates ranging from mayors to library trustees.

People who see or experience voting problems, irregularities during Tuesday’s election can call the Kane County State’s Attorney’s election complaint hotline at (630) 208-5328.

Assistant State’s Attorneys will be on hand to listen, take complaints and even visit polling places to investigate electioneering, illegally placed campaign signs or denial of voting rights between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

“Everyone wants an honest, fair, orderly election,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. “My staff will be available to all who have concerns.”

Election laws say campaign signs must be kept 100 feet from a polling place.

Many times, people complain about signs being too close, but the distance is measured from the doorway of a polling place. One example is if polling is done in a church basement, the distance is measured off by walking up the stairs and then outside.

Blatant acts of electioneering, such as carrying signs outside the polls or trying to sway voters, are considered misdemeanors and can be punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

A car with a candidate bumper sticker parked too close to an entrance or someone wearing a candidate pin while in the voting booth also are technically electioneering, but usually are given a pass if a person moves the car or pin.

There is a separate hotline for election questions, such as polling times and places.

That information is available at the Kane County Clerk’s Election Help Line at (630) 232-5990.

Forest preserve suit dropped

A Kane County man who claimed to be injured when he fell off his bike in August on a path in South Elgin near the Fox River has shelved his lawsuit.

Robert Wiling sought damages of more than $50,000 for a fall he took Aug. 21 along the Fox River Trail near Kenyon Woods Middle School.

Willing charged the Kane County Forest Preserve District with negligence, saying there were not signs warning bike riders before a washed-out portion of the path.

But Patrick Kinnally, attorney for the forest preserve, filed a motion to dismiss the suit with prejudice, meaning Willing would be unable to refile it. Kinnally argued that Kane County was protected from liability under the Local Government and Tort Immunity Act, which covers hiking, biking, riding, fishing and hunting trails.

A hearing was set for Thursday, but perhaps Willing’s attorney saw the writing on the wall, asked for and was granted on March 21 a voluntary dismissal without prejudice, meaning he could refile it again sometime.

hhitzeman@dailyherald.com