Record #: R2014-813   
Type: Resolution Status: Failed to Pass
Intro date: 11/5/2014 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics
Final action: 5/20/2015
Title: Call for hearing(s) on unauthorized and improper telephone calls to election judges in connection with November 4, 2014 election
Sponsors: Emanuel, Rahm, Burke, Edward M., Reboyras, Ariel, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Maldonado, Roberto, Sposato, Nicholas, Austin, Carrie M., Mell, Deborah, Waguespack, Scott, Suarez, Regner Ray, Willie B. Cochran, Harris, Michelle A., Holmes, Natashia, Quinn, Marty, Lane, Lona, O'Shea, Matthew J., Thomas, Latasha R., Tunney, Thomas, Hairston, Leslie A., Solis, Daniel, Chandler, Michael D., Zalewski, Michael R., Munoz, Ricardo, O'Connor, Patrick, Laurino, Margaret, Dowell, Pat, Fioretti, Bob, Moreno, Proco Joe
Topic: COMMITTEE/PUBLIC HEARINGS - Committee on Committees, Rule and Ethics
Attachments: 1. R2014-813.pdf
Related files: R2015-407
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR

November 5, 2014









TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO


Ladies and Gentlemen:

I transmit herewith, together with Alderman Burke and others, a resolution regarding unauthorized and improper automated telephone calls made to election judges in conjunction with the November 4, 2014 election.

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.

Mayor

Very truly yours,

RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, President Thomas Jefferson once observed that: "The elective franchise, if guarded as the ark of our safety, will peaceably dissipate all combinations to subvert a Constitution, dictated by the wisdom, and resting on the will of the people;" and
WHEREAS, Maintaining the integrity of the electoral process is key to any well-functioning democracy;
WHEREAS, Yesterday, the Chicago Board of Elections announced that many Chicago area voters were not able to cast ballots Tuesday morning due to polling places opening late; and
i
WHEREAS, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chairman Langdon Neal indicated that the problem was due to a lack of election judges. The board had planned for
Tuesday's election, and an unprecedented number of
10,000 election judges to be assigned for those judges did not show up; and
WHEREAS, The failure of 2,000 election judges to report to duty is believed to have been the result of malicious robocalls made to election judges over the weekend, falsely informing them that they had to report for training, or they would not be able to serve on Election Day; and
WHEREAS, In other cases, dozens of judges reported receiving calls demanding that they vote in a certain way in order to serve as an election judge. Some judges quit after receiving this misinformation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Neal indicated lhat at least one precinct in all 50 wards experienced a problem with election judges not showing up, with the result that some voters, who did not have the luxury of waitin...

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