Dupage Policy Journal

Chicago early-election judges are being told they must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to serve this role, as reported by the Illinois Review. However, the requirement does not apply to those working the poll on election day. This news has sparked backlash from many, including those who are involved in making sure Chicago elections are fair and just.

Illinois Review received a tip earlier this week from readers who were told by the Chicago Board of Elections that they will be required to provide proof of vaccination in order to be an early election judge or poll watcher in the city of Chicago. However, the rule doesn't apply to those serving on election day, Nov. 8.

"No Vax, No Election-Officiating before Nov 8th, says Chicago Board of Elections," the Illinois Review wrote in an Oct. 17 Twitter post.

"There is no vaccination requirement or mask mandate to serve as an Election Judge or Coordinator on Election Day in Chicago," Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson Max Bever said.

Carol Davis of the Illinois Conservative Union, who has been focusing on election integrity for the past few years, is enraged at the policy. 

"The policy outlined by the Chicago Board of Elections is unacceptable. Based on Illinois statutes, the functions, responsibilities and contact with the public of those performing the role of Election Judge are the same, whether performed on Election Day or during the (ridiculous) 40-day Early Voting period in Illinois," Davis said in an email to the Illinois Review.

According to the Daily Signal, the National Bureau of Economic Research released findings from a study last month which supported a long-held presumption that vaccine hesitancy is more widespread on the Right when compared to the Left.

"This is clearly an effort by the Chicago machine to suppress the rights of Republicans to have an equal presence throughout election 'season.' Logic and reason must prevail in this situation – no mandates should be imposed upon any election worker or poll watcher," Davis said, according to Illinois Review. In cases of similar policies in other states, the Republican National Committee has reportedly sued and won.

“Applicants for part-time work with the board, which includes working as an early voting official, are required to be fully vaccinated, a resident of the city of Chicago, and be able to pass a background check,” Bever told The Daily Signal.

Hans von Spakovsky, manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative at The Heritage Foundation, says "this is obviously a useless and unnecessary requirement. Whether the government has the legal authority to require it, I would think, is also a matter of dispute,” according to the Daily Signal. He believes the requirement is foolish, "given the fact that election officials all over the country are always having problems finding enough election workers."