For a stretch on Tuesday, voting at a Back of the Yards polling place turned chaotic as paper ballots ran out and one of the city's best-known candidates was told he had already cast his vote.
Voters at Sherman School of Excellence were initially turned away after the site exhausted its supply of paper ballots, and State Rep. LaShawn Ford was briefly denied a ballot when records incorrectly showed he had already voted. Poll workers directed some voters to a touchscreen voting machine while additional paper ballots were rushed in. Ford declined to use a provisional ballot and ultimately cast a regular paper ballot after the error was fixed.
Ballots Ran Short at Sherman School
According to ABC7 Chicago, the Chicago Board of Elections sent more paper ballots to Sherman School of Excellence once staff realized they had run out. During the gap, voters who showed up were told to use a touchscreen voting machine until traditional ballots were restocked.
Board Says the Problem Was Isolated
"The issue with candidate LaShawn Ford was resolved in about 40 minutes," Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Max Bever told ABC7 Chicago. He said mistakes can surface in the course of the day, but that officials had not found "anything that's systemic across the city."
Bever added that election staff were watching precincts for any other irregularities and described turnout as modest.
Why Ford's Denial Drew Extra Attention
Ford is a leading contender to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Danny Davis in the 7th Congressional District, a seat that covers parts of Chicago and nearby suburbs. Davis endorsed Ford when he announced his retirement, according to CBS Chicago. That status turned a routine-looking clerical error into a closely watched moment in an already high-profile primary.
Turnout Tools and Next Steps
Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon rolled out a new analytics dashboard called Election Lens to track real-time turnout in suburban Cook County, the I-Team reported. DuPage County, meanwhile, reported unusually strong midterm primary participation.
Election officials urged anyone who ran into problems at the polls to contact local election authorities so issues can be addressed quickly.
Board officials stressed that procedures exist to correct mistakes and reminded the public that any voter in line at closing time is still allowed to cast a ballot. The I-Team said it would continue to keep an eye out for further problems as votes are tallied.
