Dupage Policy Journal

State Senator Seth Lewis has raised concerns about the transparency of mail-in ballot data release in DuPage County following the recent election. On November 8, 2024, Lewis expressed dissatisfaction with the current handling of election data by DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek.

In his statement, Lewis emphasized the need for transparency in elections. "Illinoisans deserve full transparency when it comes to elections," he stated. He noted that three days after the November 5 election, no additional information on processed mail-in ballots had been released by Kaczmarek. This delay contrasts with other county clerks across Illinois who are updating vote totals more frequently.

Lewis highlighted the impact of this delay on local races, saying, "There are some very tight races in this area and the outcomes remain in flux as candidates await mail-in ballot data." He criticized what he described as "slow-rolling" of updated vote totals and stressed that timely updates are essential as mail-in voting becomes more prevalent.

The senator indicated that legislative action might be necessary if regular updates are not provided by county clerks like Kaczmarek. "This is not an issue we should have to legislate," Lewis said, but added that he would consider proposing legislation to mandate a schedule for releasing mail-in ballot information if necessary.

According to existing regulations, county clerks have up to 14 days post-election to certify results. However, Lewis argued that voters and candidates should receive progress updates sooner than this deadline.