Anthony Vega: 2022 candidate for Lake County Clerk

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office sought: Lake County Clerk

City: Grayslake

Age: 30

Occupation: Government, formerly the Lake County Sheriff's Office

Previous offices held: None

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

A: Voting is at the core of our representative democracy and any attempt to erode the integrity of our elections weakens our democratic process. What we've seen happen across the country by far-right extremists is unacceptable - putting up barriers to access to the ballot box, undermining election results, and attempting to have election authorities who perpetuate lies.

We need a County Clerk that will be a strong advocate to defend our free and fair elections and can meet the urgency of the moment. The core of our democracy depends on it.

Q: Automated improvements were made during the pandemic to facilitate mail-in ballots and early voting. What else should be done to improve voters' access to the polls?

A: Lake County has technology that can print any ballot style on-demand, but it is used in a very limited manner. In DuPage County, they will use on-demand ballot printing machines so voters can vote at any polling place. If we had invested in this technology, voters who showed up during the 2022 Primary would've been able to vote despite the change of the precinct location. Primary voters were not properly informed about these changes from the Clerk's Office and were turned away at the polls because their polling location changed due to consolidation and redistricting.

We must make a vital investment in election judges. Having a pool of qualified judges is critical to election integrity. Election judges are the backbone of our democratic process and they need to be paid equitably. Currently the pay is $140. In nearby counties, they are receiving upwards to $250.

Paying election workers equitably means we can retain judges for future elections and it can be used as a recruitment tool.

Q: What can you do to ensure that Lake County elections remain fair?

A: In 2016, Illinois was the victim of a data breach with the state's voter registration database. It is incumbent upon every County Clerk to implement its own security efforts that will enhance the state's cybersecurity protections. As the Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff, I worked closely with our IT Department to identify projects that enhanced the Sheriff's Office overall cybersecurity protections, bringing us closer in line with best practices from the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Systems recommendations. I will take the same proactive approach - work with cybersecurity experts and leverage existing partnerships to enhance our cybersecurity efforts. I will work with the County Board to fund a dedicated election cybersecurity position whose job will be to ensure our cybersecurity is proactive. Experts and advocates recommend risk limiting audits. When my opponent was invited to be part of an audit pilot program through a national advocacy organization, she rejected the offer.

Q: What safeguards are (or will) you put into place to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their right to vote?

A: When it comes to early voting in Lake County, polling locations have to be more distributed across the county. In the 2022 Primary, there were early voting locations selected as polling sites that were not as easily accessible to voters. The day before Election Day, the early vote location at the Mundelein Fire Department did not only have too few election judges, but the site had a 2+ hour wait time. The nearest, alternate location was in Grant Township or in Waukegan instructing voters to drive nearly 30 minutes in the middle of rush hour to cast their ballot. We need to encourage early voting by having the distribution of early voting sites accessible. We need to be conscientious about where early voting locations are being placed to ensure maximum access to residents - in addition to making sure polling locations are being properly staffed.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Illinois Freedom of Information Act?

A: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a good way to hold government and elected officials accountable and to demonstrate to the public how the government arrives at decisions that impact the daily lives of residents.

During my time at the Sheriff's office, we always complied with the requests of the people that fell within the scope of the law. While some requests can be challenging to fulfill given the time requirements or the open ended request, this process provides transparency and accountability in our government and it is an Illinois statute that must be followed.

Q: Please state your plan to maintain government transparency and election integrity.

A: Having worked for one of the largest county departments, I know first hand what it takes to communicate effectively to our diverse communities.

I led the charge to implement the first interactive phone app for the county, making government more accessible to Lake County constituents. The app allows users to receive emergency alerts, request FOIAs, submit crime tips and make anonymous complaints of government workers which increases access by the public to the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The Clerk's Office plays a critical role in civic engagement and promoting democracy. I am a product of Mikva Challenge Program, a nonprofit that focuses on youth voter engagement in the electoral process. At 16, I became an election judge, later a site coordinator, and even after I graduated from the program, I became a poll watcher. Now, I am running for Lake County Clerk. There is so much potential to increase civic engagement, but the efforts must be rooted in a community centric approach.