CHICAGO — Hiring precinct election judges and poll watchers has traditionally been routine work for state political parties and candidates trying to ensure ballots are cast and counted properly leading up to Election Day.
But this year, the Illinois Republican Party and its candidate for governor, Darren Bailey, have classified those roles as part of a broad “election integrity” effort that is a follow-up to baseless claims the 2020 presidential election was stolen. What’s more, that effort is being led in part by individuals who support former President Donald Trump’s debunked assertions.
“Election integrity has not just been an issue since the election of 2020, but because of the historic cemetery turnout in Illinois it has been an issue here in Illinois for a long, long time,” state GOP Chair Don Tracy told party leaders at the Illinois State Fair in August. He apparently was referring to rumors of deceased people still on Chicago voting rolls having cast ballots for John F. Kennedy over Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential campaign.
