McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan’s office is not covering itself with glory today.
The following press release came from McHenry County:
McHenry County Polling Sites Ordered to Remain Open until 8:30 p.m. on Election Day
By Judge’s order, polling sites in McHenry County, IL have been ordered to remain
open on Election Day until 8:30 p.m.
The McHenry County Clerk’s Office has received information from numerous election
judges, citizens, and candidates about technical difficulties with the electronic polling
machines at polls throughout McHenry County.
All McHenry County polling sites shall remain open for the casting of provisional ballots
between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on March 15, 2016.
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Here are the documents:
Here’s the paperwork that led to Judge Thomas Meyer’s Court Order:
The Northwest Herald reported on March 9, 2016: “McHenry County Testing Voting Machines for 2016 Primary Election.”
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There’s no ability to vote via paper ballot or other contingency plan in case the voting machines fail?
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In 2015 US District Judge John F Grady ruled that Cook County States Attorney Mary McClellan “acted in bad faith” during a civil rights case.
Family attorney Jared Kosoglad was told the files in question were destroyed following the trial.
However, upon court approval to search for the files, Mr. Kosoglad was able to find the files in about 15 minutes.
The files were misfiled in a 2010 box instead of a 2008 box.
Chicago Tribune
Federal Judge Slaps State’s Attorney’s Office With a Rare Sanction
by Quinn Ford
January 12, 2015
I understand the reason for, and condone the extension of the polling hours.
Although the extension could certainly alter the results, people should have ample opportunity to cast their vote.
Perhaps the most crucial and important responsibility of any County Clerk is to conduct fair and orderly elections.
I consider this “mishap” to be dreadful incompetency on the part of Mary McClellan and the County Clerks office.
She had two years to prepare for this important election. She should have been prepared.
Let everyone recall that very shortly after taking office in 2014, Mary McClellan outraged many people by hiring her husband Ed Gil as an Election Administration Supervisor at $48,750 per year.
Perhaps someone else, anyone else, should have been considered.
I’m as disappointed in her and she will not get my vote ever in the future.
What does this have to do with technical difficulties with the electronic polling machines?
Are you trying to imply that the McHenry County Clerk Mary McClellan sabotage the electronic polling machines?
Eric C. I have no idea who is implying what but I can tell you that anyone who has been involved in elections and wants to perform well for the voting public would ensure that a fail-safe system is in place at the polling sites.
This was the first election with the new electronic voter rolls.
In the past we always had paper only.
As this was the first election with the new electronic voter rolls, it would have been prudent to have paper backup.
Another option would have been to thoroughly train the judges relative to Provisional voting.
AND each precinct would have been supplied with enough Provisional ballots to cover at least twenty percent of their normal turnout.
If the precinct ran out, they could call the Clerk’s office for additional.
In case you are not familiar with Provisional voting, here are some of the instructions:
PROVISIONAL VOTING PROCEDURES:
Voter fills out “Application to Vote.”
Voter fills out and signs the “Provisional Voter Affidavit.”
Election judge signs the “Provisional Voter Affidavit” and marks one of the seven reasons the voter is being issued a provisional ballot. The original affidavit stays with the “Provisional Ballot Envelope,” and the copy goes to the voter.
The voter may present information that supports his/her claim to be a qualified voter. This information stays with the affidavit.
The voter is issued a provisional ballot and a “Provisional Ballot Envelope.
If the ballot is spoiled, it must be surrendered to the judge, who will issue a new ballot.
The voted ballot is sealed in the “Provisional Ballot Envelope”.
The “Provisional Ballot Envelope” is then returned to the election judges.
The election judges will deposit the provisional ballot envelope in a SEPARATE SECURABLE CONTAINER (other than the ballot box containing the regular ballots).
After voting provisionally, the voter is told how to submit additional proof of registration to the election authority, and how, after the election, to determine if their ballot was counted.
Each provisional voter should be provided written instructions on how to follow up after Election Day
I have no idea how many Provisional ballots this clerk supplied each precinct with.
In the past the most I ever received in my election materials bag was ten.
Lets get the facts of what happened first
Everything, Eric.
It means they are stealing another one.
The polls are closing and locking their doors saying that no one informed them to do otherwise!
Don’t tell me this wasn’t part of a scam!
@Cindy
I learned a long time ago that you shouldn’t blame anything on malice if it can be adequately explained by incompetence.
I really don’t think that Mary McClellan is trying to rig the election, I just don’t think that she has the faintest idea what she is doing.
Billy Bob? I never said that was what SHE was doing.
I just think she wasted our money.
Incompetence comes to mind but I am not accusing her of anything illegal. (Unless now stupid is also illegal.)
I never mentioned anything like what you are indicating.
Don’t try to put words in my mouth.
Read for comprehension, not what your biases tell you.
@cindy
“It means they are stealing another one…..Don’t tell me this wasn’t part of a scam”
I think my reading comprehension is just fine. It sure sounds as if you are blaming Miss McClellan.
We the people asked that representatives from the US Attorneys office to be present at the polling places.
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2016/03/08/election-judge-questions-procedures/
Are “We the people” the intellectually and ethically challenged crowd in Algonquin Township?
Not the old ones, but the new ones?
Absolutely not!, Billy Bob.
Scams are run from way higher up.
Have you never heard of useful idiots?
I never accused Madam McClellan.
YOU are putting words in my mouth.
Now, stop it!
Billy Bob, No, but you sound like a member of the Nygren Circus.
Bitter much!
PRIM WON!
Where do you buy your foil? It must be of exceptionally high purity if you can receive the signals from way out there.
Btw – I voted for Prim and I despise Zinke.
The fact that someone on the other team really sucks doesn’t that the guy on your team is perfect.
Hey Billy Bob, the good o’l boys are having a popcorn party.
Feel free to join them.
You should fit right in as it is a party for LOSERS!
doesn’t mean — I hate autocorrect on my phone
“Hey Billy Bob, the good o’l boys are having a popcorn party”
popcorn?
Duncan McHenry, is that you?
Northwest Herald
Update: County Board Chairman Too Close to Call
March 15, 2016 – updated March 16, 2016 1:43AM
by Kevin Craver
“Numerous problems plagued Tuesday’s elections in McHenry County, from faulty equipment to problems with ballots and voters being turned away from some polling places even as they were required under court order to stay open another 90 minutes.”