Recently at a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners I sponsored a resolution to initiate discussion among the board of commissioners and to hold a public hearing regarding problems associated with the new voting equipment that occurred on primary election day. The problems associated with the new equipment, including non-functional voting machines, long lines and the inability of the Clerk’s Office to report vote totals was and is unacceptable. The public hearing was held April 27.
Cook County Clerk David Orr has offered “a list of improvements” to fix problems in the voting equipment to include:
Additional judge training
A new “equipment manager” post among election judges
Examine optical scanners
Fix problems with the Touch Screen Card Activator/Accumulator
Address printer issues
Review accumulation and transmission results
Re-test software and equipment
Re-evaluate receiving station structure
Expedite retrieval of vote totals if transmission fails
Improve repair station response
Anyone may submit written suggestions or correspondence they may have for improvement. Any written correspondence I receive will be included in the record in lieu of testimony.
The efficient administration of the right to vote is essential to our democracy. We must continue to demand all possible efficiencies in the voting process to be sure that every vote truly counts. We must demand that these problems do not reoccur in November or in any future election.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to contact me at 312/603-4393 or e-mail me at cookcty9@aol.com. All written correspondence should be sent to:
Commissioner Peter N. Silvestri
118 N. Clark St., Suite 567
Chicago, IL 60602
Peter N. Silvestri
Cook County Commissioner, 9th District
