Election officials are busy running the elections and are trying to keep people safe. Polling places across the country are ramping up their security.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ill. (WSIL)--Election officials are busy running the elections and are trying to keep people safe. Polling places across the country are ramping up their security.
This comes as a way to keep voters and poll workers protected.
Robin Harper-Whitehead is busy running the election process for Johnson County. Like many election officials, she is concerned about safety.
“We always have concerns about safety,� Harper-Whitehead says. “Safety for our election judges and safety for our voters that are going in, whether it be polling place location, electioneering, or someone just trying to disrupt the election system.
Harper-Whitehead says they have security at the courthouse, and on call for their polling places. She says they also gave their election judges extra training to help mitigate any problems they might have.
“We work very closely with our sheriff. Sheriff Sopczak is very much aware of everything that is going on. He is double checking and alerting all of his deputies that will be working today and tomorrow to put them on standby,� Harper-Whitehead said.
In Jefferson County, Sheriff Jeff Bullard says they have also been communicating with their election officials about security concerns.
“We're having a deputy that is going to be assigned tomorrow to rove around all the polling places around the county,� Sheriff Bullard said.
Bullard says if people feel like they need police assistance to go ahead and call.
“Hopefully there'll be no problems or issues,� Bullard says. “Obviously this has been a very heated presidential race, and people are reminded not to wear anything that promotes one candidate or the other inside of the polling place. That's a violation of the rules.�
Both Bullard and Harper-Whitehead say the goal is for people to feel comfortable to vote in any election.
“If there is a deputy or a city officer close by when a person's having a problem, all they have to do is flag them down and the officer or deputy will provide the assistance the public needs,� Bullard says.
Harper-Whitehead wants to remind people that they can always reach out to their county clerk if they have questions.
“If you don't know where to vote, you can always look at your voter's card. That's in any county. And You can always call your county clerk at their local numbers and they'd be happy to help you out,� Harper-Whitehead said.
Polling places in Illinois open at 6:00 AM, and close at 7:00 PM.
