Concerns were raised on Saturday, Oct. 31, around an election volunteer allegedly directing early voters to have identification, driver’s license or state ID, ready as they waited in line to vote at Oak Park’s Village Hall for early voting.
Oak Park Village Clerk Christina Waters said, in a written statement, the Cook County Clerk’s Office notified her of the concern, and she promptly went to village hall to address any misunderstanding.
“We take concerns about voter access seriously. Our expectation is that every voter receives accurate information and respectful assistance, and that optional identification is never presented as a condition of voting,” wrote Waters.
Waters spoke with the election judge and volunteer, and the volunteer denied requiring voters to show identification.
“The election judge advised the volunteer that voters do not have to show identification as a general requirement and should not be required to have their IDs ready,” wrote Waters.
Waters clarified that she was not present during the conversation and cannot “independently confirm the wording used in the original exchange.”
Registered voters, under most circumstances, do not need to show photo identification to vote, however, they can voluntarily present identification during check-in to make the process faster.
According to Waters, the village’s written volunteer instructions, “prohibit volunteers from checking identification or determining voter eligibility.” Both security personnel, who are present for safety, access and orderly movement, and volunteers are supposed to refer questions about voting requirements to election judges.
