Know the facts on absentee voting

Lake County voters should know that paid campaign workers are going door-to-door in Lake County giving out incorrect information that could impact you or your family member’s vote. The county clerk’s office has offered to assist in training their workers, but the campaign has declined to cooperate with us.

Please be advised:

1. A voter who votes by mail must sign an application for ballot in his or her own hand. A family member cannot sign for other family members. The signature is the sole method of verifying the person requesting the ballot is the registered voter. 2. Campaign workers may not forge or print names of voters on applications for payment and delivery to the election authority.

3. A person who signs an application for a ballot is not permitted to vote a regular ballot on Election Day, but may only vote a provisional ballot to ensure that each voter has only one ballot voted and counted.

Residents also should know that the Illinois General Assembly passed a law requiring a list of persons who requested a ballot by mail or voted early in person be supplied to any campaign committees on file with the State Board of Elections.

Some voters are being called by campaign workers and urged to mark the ballot quickly and mail it back. Voters report this as an invasion of privacy.

Voters living in nursing homes participate in voting administered by election judges representing the two political parties at the nursing home. These voters report being telephoned and told their ballots are being mailed, which upset and confused the voters.

If you receive a ballot by mail that you did not request, please call the Lake County Clerk’s office immediately at 847-277-2308.

Willard Helander

Lake County Clerk