Attorney General Madigan assigns teams to monitor primary election

[March 20, 2012]  CHICAGO -- Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that more than 160 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from her staff will be working throughout the state on Tuesday to monitor the primary elections, to ensure that Illinoisans' voting rights are protected and that polling places are accessible.

Madigan urges voters to call her office if they encounter suspected improper or illegal activity.

Chicago and northern Illinois voters can call 1-866-536-3496 or TTY 1-800-964-3013.

Downstate voters can call 1-866-559-6812 or TTY 1-877-844-5461.

The attorney general reminded voters of some of their basic voting rights:

• Voters have the right to vote if they are in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. or at any other time between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the election day (10 ILCS 5/17-1).

• If a voter makes a mistake or "spoils" a paper ballot and the voter has not cast the ballot, the voter has the right to receive a replacement ballot (10 ILCS 5/17-11).

• If a voter cannot read, has trouble understanding English or is disabled, that voter has the right to request assistance from anyone other than his or her employer, an agent of his or her employer, or an officer or agent of his or her union (10 ILCS 5/17-14).

• Voters have the right to take unpaid time from work to vote, but no more than two successive hours, as long as they have applied with their employer before the election day. The employer may set the time of day (10 ILCS 5/17-15).

• No one is allowed to try to influence a voter within 100 feet of the polling place (10 ILCS 5/17-29).

[Text from file received from the office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan]