Help America Vote Day Aug. 16 encouraging volunteers to sign up as poll workers

The Kane County Clerk's Office is promoting Help America Vote Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16, by continuing its community outreach to recruit election judges and student judges for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission designated Aug. 16, 2022 as Help America Vote Day, as a day of action meant to assist poll worker recruitment efforts in communities across the country.

"Election judges and other poll workers are critically important to the elections process. We literally could not conduct elections without the hardworking election judges who play such a vital role in the process," Kane County Clerk John A. Cunningham said. "In the last few years, they have faced many challenges including a pandemic, historic voter turnout, and inclement weather, but our judges show up to work and help facilitate safe, secure and transparent elections in Kane County."

The Nov. 8 election is a state holiday in Illinois, providing additional opportunities for residents who have the day off from work and school to participate as election judges.

Cunningham added, "I encourage all Kane County residents to consider joining our team as an election judge for the November election. I have spent most of life serving the public, and it truly is an honor to play a small part in facilitating elections where citizens have the right and privilege to vote. I further would like to encourage students and teachers who will have the day off on November 8 to take advantage of the opportunity to serve as election judges. We have been so lucky to have had wonderful students who have added so much to our program, and I hope we can bring in more students this year to build on our successes."

Information about how to apply to become an election judge, the requirements for the position, and election judge training can be found at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Election-Judges.aspx, or by calling the Clerk's Office at (630) 232-5990.

Students are encouraged to sign up to become election judges to have a chance to help promote democracy in their communities as well as earn some extra money for college. The requirements for student judges can be found at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Student-Judges.aspx.

Information about the Nov. 8 General Election is available at www.kanecountyelections.org. Personalized sample ballots will be available in September after the ballot has been certified. Additional information will be added to the Clerk's website and social media feeds in the upcoming weeks, so voters are encouraged to follow these sites for more information.

The Clerk's Office strives to be the most transparent election authority in Illinois. Clerk Cunningham has developed innovative ways to serve the public, including expanding early voting, establishing a call center to resolve Election Day issues, developing a Voter Outreach Program to increase voter registration and early voting, and improving technology.