http://www.elections.il.gov/AboutTheBoard/PressReleases.aspx?Year=9L31Wfvd1vvWcILH9GzXMQ%3d%3d

November 1, 2016

HOT LINE PHONE NUMBERS FOR THE NOVEMBER 8, 2016 GENERAL ELECTION

CHICAGO, IL, NOVEMBER 1, 2016 -- The Illinois State Board of Elections will be responding to Election Day inquiries to assist voters at Tuesday’s November 8, 2016 General Election. The Chicago area telephone number is (312) 814-6440. For downstate voters, calls will be taken at the Board’s Springfield office at (217) 782-4141.

Election Specialists will be available Election Day from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. in Chicago and from 5:30 a.m. until Midnight in Springfield to answer questions and respond to complaints.

Voters in the November 8, 2016, General Election will elect candidates for President and Vice President, United States Senator, Comptroller, Representatives in Congress, State Senators and Representatives in the General Assembly certain County Officers and Judges. In addition, voters will also cast ballots on whether or not judges should be retained, the statewide constitutional amendment and local referenda.

Questions regarding voter registration information or polling place locations should be referred to the Office of the Cook County Clerk or Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, or other appropriate election authority.

The polls are open from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
For more election information visit the board’s website at www.elections.il.gov.
For polling place locations contact your local election authority or access the Board of Elections’ website; click on Voters at the top; “Where and When I Can Vote”; scroll down to “Registration/Polling Place Lookup”.

Voters should direct their inquiries to the appropriate agency:

 Questions about polling place equipment, election judges, poll watchers, electioneering or improper voter activity in a polling place should be directed to the appropriate election authority 

 Complaints alleging possible illegal election activity should be directed to the United States Attorney, Illinois Attorney General or other appropriate State’s Attorney.

 Questions about polling place locations should be addressed to the appropriate election authority or can be directed to the State Board of Elections website as set forth above.

With the exception of the Illinois State Board of Elections’ telephone numbers, the following telephone “hotline” numbers are activated only for Election Day complaints and questions.

ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS Chicago.................................................................................................................312-814-6440 Springfield .............................................................................................................217-782-4141 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (Northern District) ........................................................................312-469-6157 ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL Chicago.................................................................................................................866-536-3496 Springfield .............................................................................................................866-559-6812 Chicago TTY (for the hearing impaired only) .........................................................800-964-3013 Springfield TTY (for the hearing impaired only)......................................................877-844-5461 COOK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY .......................................................................................312-603-7960 COOK COUNTY CLERK Election Day Legal Hotline.....................................................................................312-603-0236 Spanish Hotline .....................................................................................................312-603-6767 Chinese Hotline.....................................................................................................312-603-6769 Hindi Hotline..........................................................................................................312-603-6743 Polish Hotline ........................................................................................................312-603-6770 CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS Election Day Complaints........................................................................................312-269-7870 TTY (for the hearing impaired only.........................................................................312-269-0027

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

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October 26, 2016

ILLINOIS NEARS 8,000,000 REGISTERED VOTERS

Chicago, IL – October 26, 2016 – The number of registered voters in Illinois, currently 7,988,670, is approaching 8,000,000. This surpasses the previous record high of 7,789,500 set for the 2008 General Election and reflects the public’s interest in the November 8, 2016, General Election. Updated registration figures as well as Early Voting totals are available on the Board’s website.

As registration is available through Election Day, the number of registered voters is expected to further increase. Voters who have not yet registered are cautioned that they could encounter long lines if they delay registration until Election Day.

Regular registration closed on October 11, 2016, and on-line voter registration closed at midnight on October 23, 2016. However, voters who still have not yet registered may take advantage of Grace Period registration, which extends through November 8, 2016. Grace Period registration allows a voter to register at locations designated by the appropriate election authority and runs through Election Day. Grace Period, however, requires the person to cast his vote at the time of registering.

Early Voting, which extends through November 7, 2016 is an option available to voters who are already registered and wish to cast their vote prior to Election Day. Early voting can take place at any location designated by the election authority with which the voter is registered. Voters who wish to take advantage of Early Voting should contact their election authority for locations and hours.

The State Board of Election’s website, www.elections.il.gov, provides Early Voting locations for all jurisdictions in Illinois.

The State Board of Elections urges voters who use either Grace Period or Early Voting to register (if required) and cast their vote as soon as possible to avoid long lines on Election Day and leading up to Election Day.

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

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October 20, 2016

STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ASSURES VOTERS ELECTIONS ARE NOT “RIGGED”

Chicago, IL – October 20, 2016 – The State Board of Elections has received inquiries from voters, the media and public interest groups concerning the integrity of the November 8, 2016, General Election. The State Board of Elections wishes to assure voters that the allegations of a “rigged” election are completely unfounded. A brief overview of the election process illustrates the numerous safeguards built into the election system to secure the integrity of the voting machines and tabulation of election results.

Initially, the Voting and Registration Systems Division of the State Board of Elections thoroughly tests the voting equipment to ensure compliance with both Federal and State standards prior to approving its use in Illinois elections, and also conducts testing of the voting equipment prior to each Election. This testing takes place in jurisdictions selected by the State Board of Elections both randomly and in those jurisdictions where it is deemed advisable due to any problems in previous elections, and is open to the public.

Each of the 109 election authorities in the State must conduct errorless pre-tests of its automatic tabulating equipment and program to verify that they will correctly count the votes for all offices and public questions. A copy of that program is filed with the State Board prior to the election. Thereafter, not less than 5 days prior to Election Day, the election authority must publicly test the equipment. The public test of the equipment takes place at a minimum of 48 hours after notice is published, and is open to the public and all interested parties.

Following these mandatory public tests, the voting equipment and memory cards are locked and sealed in tamper-proof containers until Election Day. The containers are unlocked and unsealed on Election Day in the presence of the election judges and any authorized watchers that are present. If any tampering has occurred, it would be evident at that time.

In addition to the mandatory testing, the law requires training for all citizens who serve as election judges. Each election authority must establish a 4-hour training course for its judges. Also, the State Board of Elections conducts schools for the training of election judges throughout the State of Illinois. These schools, conducted by Board staff, are well-attended and on-going. Between July 25, 2016, and November 2, 2016, there are 62 schools scheduled.

Significantly, on Election Day the polling places are staffed by 5 judges – composed of both Democrats and Republicans - in each precinct. There are approximately 10,000 precincts in Illinois, which translates to 50,000 election judges present to assure the integrity of the process. Additionally, authorized poll watchers are eligible to be present in each precinct.

Following the close of the polls, the election judges process the ballots in the presence of all the judges and any authorized poll watchers in attendance.

Elections in Illinois are conducted not by the State Board of Elections, but by each of the 109 election jurisdictions. Thus, an attempt to “rig” the election would require involvement with multiple jurisdictions. The results from each of the precincts are totaled by each election jurisdiction and there is no connection to the internet. There is a paper trail in Illinois for each ballot cast, by whatever means it is cast.

Following the election, in those jurisdictions where in-precinct counting equipment is used, the election authority retabulates the total number of votes cast in 5% of the precincts within the election jurisdiction, as well as 5% of the voting devices used in early voting.

Any voter who is concerned about the integrity of the election process may want to consider becoming an election judge. Election authorities are always seeking election judges and serving as such allows the voter to experience first-hand the system from the opening of the precinct to the tabulation of the results. Voters may also consider volunteering as a pollwatcher though to do so they must be affiliated with a candidate, political party or civic organization engaged in overseeing the election process.

The State Board of Elections will provide updates, as necessary, prior to the General Election. The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

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October 6, 2016

Utility Workers and Volunteers Impacted By Hurricane Matthew Urged to Early Vote

CHICAGO, IL – October 6, 2016 - The State Board of Elections is strongly urging utility workers, volunteers and others who may be travelling out-of-state to assist in the anticipated clean-up from Hurricane Matthew to early vote prior to departing the State of Illinois.

There is no assurance that those impacted will return in time to cast an in-person vote on November 8, 2016. Early voting prior to departing guarantees utility workers, volunteers and others involved in the clean-up that their ballots will be cast.

Those who request a mail-in ballot at this point may encounter difficulties either receiving the ballot and/or timely returning the ballot, as it must be post-marked by November 8, 2016. Thus, early voting appears to be the best option for those anticipating assisting in Hurricane Matthew clean-up efforts.

Registered voters should contact their election authority for early voting locations and times. Early voting locations are also available on the Board’s website, www.elections.il.gov, by clicking “Voters” and “When and Where Can I Vote.”

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

September 27, 2016

EARLY VOTING BEGINS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Chicago, Illinois – September 27, 2016 – Voting by personal appearance at an Early Voting Center begins Thursday, September 29, 2016, for the November 8, 2016 General Election. Election authorities in each county in the state have announced the locations of Early Voting Centers that will be open through November 7, 2016. Eligible voters will be able to vote at certain times and locations during the early voting period. In less populous counties, the County Clerk’s office often is the Early Voting location and may not be open on weekends. Early voting locations are available on the Board’s website which is www.elections.il.gov and by clicking “Voters” and “When and Where Can I Vote”.

There will be numerous Early Voting Centers throughout Chicago, suburban Cook County and populous counties in the metropolitan Chicago area. In the November, 2012 Presidential Election, nearly 1,185,458 people cast their ballots at an Early Voting Center, representing 22% of the ballots cast.

 “Voting early by personal appearance, without having to give a reason, has proven to be a popular option for Illinois voters,” said Steven Sandvoss, Executive Director of the State Board of Elections. “Voters appreciate the convenience of going to the polls on their own schedule.”

State law specifies that a permanent polling place for Early Voting must remain open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The law also states that the permanent polling places for early voting must be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Holidays. Polling place hours on weekdays beginning October 31, 2016 are 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the final weekend before the November 8, 2016 General Election (November 5 and 6), the specific hours – a minimum of 14 hours – shall be determined by the election authority.

Early voting by personal appearance is an option available to eligible voters. Voting by mail is also available to all registered voters and runs through November 3, 2016.

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

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August 31, 2016

ILLINOIS VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM RECORDS BREACHED

CHICAGO, IL – August 31, 2016 – The Illinois State Board of Elections was the victim of a cyber-attack of unknown origin which targeted the Illinois Voter Registration System database (IVRS). Board Staff became aware of the breach on July 12, 2016, and immediately took measures to stop the intrusion. Since the discovery of the breach, staff has worked to determine the scope of the intrusion, secure databases and web applications, comply with state law regarding exposure of personal information records, and assist law enforcement in their investigation of the attack.

At this time, both IVRS and the Paperless Online Voter Application (POVA) websites are fully functional. Additionally, the State Board of Elections can confirm that neither voting history information nor voter signature images were captured. Although the investigation continues, the Board is confident that no data in the IVRS database was added, changed or deleted. It appears that approximately one-half of one percent of the records in the database were viewed, and many of those only contained information that is otherwise publicly available from other sources. The Board is cooperating with the FBI in an ongoing investigation and a detailed report of the breach is available on the Board website at www.elections.il.gov.

The State Board of Elections can confirm that approximately 700 voter records were viewed and those 700 individuals will soon be notified by mail as required by law. In addition, approximately 86,000 records are strongly suspected to have been viewed and the Board staff continues to identify those individuals. Anyone within that group will receive written notification within the next thirty days. There appear to be 3,533 records viewed which will not be able to be identified.

If a voter’s records were viewed, hackers could have obtained the voter’s name, address and date of birth. If the voter provided a phone number, email address, driver’s license number or the last four digits of his or her social security number when registration occurred, that information may also have been viewed. Even if a voter’s record was viewed, the Board is sure no records have been altered or changed in any way.

The cyber-intrusion was a complex attack, involving thousands of lines of encoded inquiries. Upon becoming aware of the cyber-intrusion, the Illinois Attorney General, the General Assembly and all Illinois election authorities were notified. Several news sources reported it at that time. Press coverage has escalated in recent days now that other states appear to have been impacted and there is FBI involvement.

If at any time a voter suspects that they are the victim of identity theft, he or she may contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Identity Theft Hotline at 1-866-999-5630 or 1-877-844-5461 (TTY)

The State Board of Elections is an independent state agency charged with the responsibility of having general supervision over the administration of election laws of the State of Illinois. Elections are administered locally by the State’s 109 election authorities.

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