Election Protection Volunteers Protect the Right to Vote in the March 2024 Illinois Primary Elections
During the March 19 Illinois Primary Election cycle, over 100 non-partisan Election Protection pro bono volunteers and Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights staff answered calls from voters to the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline, conducted an on-the-ground voter protection field program in Chicago and six northeast Illinois counties, and protected the rights of voters in pretrial detention and student voters. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is grateful to national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and our community partners for their collaboration and solidarity in ensuring access to the polls.
Despite a low in-person turnout in comparison to previous primary elections, we assisted a steady stream of voters and civic organizations who encountered questions and issues. The problems we tackled ranged from incorrect ballots to language and disability access barriers, all of which were exacerbated by tech failures at the polls.
One voter called our 866-OUR-VOTE hotline after incorrectly being instructed to use a provisional ballot. We successfully advocated to the election authority to reach out directly to the voter, provide the voter a new ballot to vote correctly, and ensure that the correct ballot would be counted.
The voter lives on Chicago’s Southeast Side and shared her experience using the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline:
“I was very impressed when I called the [866-OUR-VOTE] hotline and was able to talk to a real person without delay. I was shocked I didn’t get a robot telling me they’d get back to me when I called. Speaking to a live person and…knowing what to look for made me feel at ease. When I became frustrated, [the poll workers] worked with Election Protection to resolve the issue for my vote to count.”
“Oftentimes, issues that arise at the polls place significant barriers for eligible voters and can affect the likelihood that their vote will be counted,” said Cliff Helm, Senior Counsel with the Midwest Voting Rights Program at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee. “Voters can call the hotline with questions or to report any issues and they are instantly connected with a trained, nonpartisan volunteer who’s ready to help.”
In addition to answering calls from across the state, our pro bono volunteers resolved numerous problems in the field. After one field volunteer observed poll workers improperly removing privacy covers, looking at individual ballots, and sharing personal political views, the volunteer successfully advocated to the county Clerk who promptly addressed the problem. De-escalating tensions at polls and advocating for voters to be free from intimidation remain priorities for Chicago Lawyers’ Committee. During this election, numerous voters reported feeling singled out for their political perspectives and feeling frustrated by not having more choices on their ballots.
With many voters facing last-minute polling place closures and relocations, the need for clear communication and signage is significant. This is especially the case for voters with limited English proficiency and voters with disabilities. In several polling places where voters faced confusion, we helped election judges effectively communicate with voters, from hanging signs to explaining the assistance that voters have the right to receive.
Our staff and pro bono volunteers also conducted in-person voter protection at Cook County Jail in collaboration with Chicago Votes to ensure that people in pretrial detention can exercise their right to vote. Given the misinformation about voter eligibility for people in carceral systems and the disproportionate disenfranchisement of Black and Latinx communities, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee partners with incarcerated and returning community members to strengthen voting rights. In this election, we helped voters resolve numerous issues that come up while voting in pretrial detention, including correcting instances of rules being misapplied in a way that block voters.
Looking Ahead
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is already hard at work preparing our Election Protection efforts for the 2024 general election. There are still persistent issues and barriers to access that disproportionately affect voters of color, voters with limited English proficiency, voters in pretrial detention, and voters with disabilities. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights looks forward to working with election officials to address many of these issues ahead of the November election.
This work would not be possible without our dedicated and passionate Election Protection volunteers who partner with voters facing frustrating barriers and formulate creative solutions. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer and voter who devotes time to Election Protection and look forward to partnering with you again for the next election.