Ill. Lawmaker Wants to Stop Using Schools As Polling Places

WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports hundreds of schools in Illinois are used as polling places, but state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has introduced legislation to put a stop to that practice.

Franks said it’s a matter of safety.

“Right now, if I want to go see my kids at school, I have to get buzzed in; as it should be, but for some reason, we don’t require that on Election Day,” Franks said. “We’ve been lucky that there hasn’t been a problem, but I don’t think that we should continue to press our luck.”

Cook County Clerk David Orr, who oversees election in suburban Cook county, said removing polling places from schools is a bad idea.

He said “it’s unfortunate” if Franks wants to stop using schools as polling places.