In the United States, there’s a common concern among voters about election security and the integrity of the voting process. It’s important to have the facts from a reliable source to trust in transparency of elections and to ensure your vote counts.
According to a NPR/PBS News/Marist poll published in October, 58% of Americans say they are very concerned or concerned that voter fraud will occur in the 2024 election.
So, how can their concerns be assuaged? With accurate information. The Cook County Clerk’s Office is one such reliable source that works on a local level to protect democracy by securing a fair election and preventing fraud.
Edmund Michalowski, deputy clerk of the elections division in the Cook County Clerk’s Office, said people need to have faith that an election is fair and free.
“You have to come to a trusted source,” Michalowski said. “[Election-related information] is really a lot for people to take in. They just need to take a deep breath and understand that the Cook County Clerk’s elections department is here to help them.”
How does the Cook County Clerk’s Office keep voters’ data secure?
The elections division in the Cook County Clerk’s Office has experts in election operations, logistics, cybersecurity and information technology. According to its website, there has never been a successful legal case taken against the division or its employees alleging fraud.
The Clerk’s Office also has a cybersecurity group, whose duty is to protect its networks, machinery, software and data. The office uses analytics and authentication software to detect and block artificial intelligence, as well as preventing breaches.
Threats from third parties around the world do come in and are more common with contentious presidential elections, Michalowski said. But if there ever is an issue with the technology or a cybersecurity concern, Michalowski said the office would lock down anything that could be vulnerable and resolve the issue.
“We’ve been very successful in blocking [third party interference],” Michalowski said.
Voters concerned about election integrity can also participate as a poll watcher. Poll watchers can observe the conduct of the election in a polling place including by visually comparing voters’ signatures against their registration. Citizens can also serve as an election judge during early voting or on Election Day. Michalowski encouraged young voters to get involved with elections and help foster democracy by working in these roles. Interested parties can find more information at cookcountyclerkil.gov.
The public can also observe election recounts and testing of election equipment at the Clerk’s elections operations centers. And anyone can file election complaints with the Clerk’s Office or seek public election information through Freedom of Information Act requests.
What are the voter qualifications that prevent illegal voting?
Illinois requires identification to register to vote. To register to vote in Illinois, an individual must be a United States citizen, 18 years old by the general election date and a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days prior to the election. They also must submit two forms of identification.
Those identifications do not have to be a photo ID but one must include the voter’s current address, Michalowski said. Some examples include a driver’s license, a state ID card, a student ID, a credit card, a social security card, a utility bill or a birth certificate.
On Election Day, a voter must provide their signature to confirm their identity. It’s a good idea for voters to update their signature at their polling place ahead of time to ensure there’s no confusion with their ballot.
When a person dies, the Clerk’s Office removes them from the list of registered voters. They do this by cross referencing the voter database against government death records or through family members contacting the office.
How can voters trust mail ballots?
When a voter applies for a mail ballot, the Clerk’s Office verifies their information through registration records before mailing the ballot. When a voter receives it, the ballot must be signed on the exterior of the envelope before being mailed back or dropped off.
That signature is then verified by three bipartisan judges through registration records. These judges are trained in signature verification. If a signature is completely different, Michalowski said, the judges will ask for further identification.
Mail ballots are then counted after polls close on Election Day.
Mail ballots can be dropped off at more than 50 early voting sites in Cook County. A licensed and bonded courier service picks up and delivers the ballots each day. The courier and an election judge at each location must agree on the number of ballots each day and place them in a sealed envelope for transport.
Voters can track their mail ballot to ensure it was counted through the Clerk’s Office. If a voter sees their ballot was not received or authenticated, there’s time to cure that ahead of time and produce any necessary identification.
“Our democracy depends on us,” Michalowski said. “It’s an honor to serve the citizens of Cook County.”