Election Results Fair, Accurate Most IL Patch Readers Say

ILLINOIS — Most of the nearly 2,000 people who responded to Patch's non-scientific voting survey this week said they believe both state and national election results are fair and accurate, but readers had strong opinions whether they agreed or not.

The survey, which appeared in questionnaire form Tuesday on Patch, is meant not to be a scientific poll but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment.

Most, or more than 40 percent, of the more than 1,800 people who responded said they voted early in person. The next largest group, more than 22 percent, said they dropped off their ballots, while 16.5 percent said they mailed them in. More than 20 percent said they voted in person on Election Day.

Patch readers who voted in person — whether early or on Election Day — overwhelmingly said things went smoothly at the polls. Nearly 80 percent said things went well, while just 4.9 percent said voting went poorly.

Mail-in voting

More than 87 percent of Patch readers who responded said they received their mail-in ballot after requesting it by mail or online. Ten percent said they were automatically sent a mail-in ballot application — not surprising, since Illinois election authorities sent an application to everyone who had voted in any election since November 2018, or had registered to vote or updated their voter registration since March 18, 2018.

But surprisingly, 2.1 percent said they were sent a mail-in ballot — not just an application to request a mail-in ballot — automatically, without requesting one.

Most mail-in voters — nearly 70 percent of those who responded — said they were able to track the progress of their mail-in ballot, while 10.5 percent said they weren't, and 19.8 percent weren't sure. A similar percentage — more than 68 percent — said they received confirmation by Election Day that their mail-in ballot had been received, but more than 31 percent said they received no such confirmation.

Most, or 43 percent, strongly agreed that voting by mail is safe and generally free of fraud, with another 9.7 percent somewhat agreeing. But 29.4 percent strongly disagreed, with another 9.2 percent somewhat disagreeing. Nearly 9 percent didn't have an opinion one way or the other.

Patch Survey: Majority Trust The 2020 Election Results

Similarly, more than 40 percent strongly agreed that mail-in voting should be made easier in future elections, with another 9.7 percent somewhat agreeing and 27.2 percent strongly disagreeing. Less than 5 percent somewhat disagreed and 17.5 percent didn't have an opinion.

Nationwide, most Patch readers also said they trust the election results.

How'd it go?

While most said voting went smoothly, some voters said they had problems at the polls. Here's a sampling of comments, both positive and negative, shared by readers:

• I liked the ease of dropping off my ballot. I didn't even have to get out of my car!
• My sons mail in ballot was rejected because his “wet” signature in the ballot did NOT match THE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE THEY HAVE ON FILE. The ELECTRONIC signature when he registered to vote. Of course a wet signature is different than an electronic signature !
• The mail ballot worked perfectly. It was an honest and fair election.
• I voted early, in person . Mass mail out ballots should be illegal . You cannot certify who the person was that actually filled out that ballot .
• This election shows us that there is an easier way for people to vote. Voting by mail allowed for greater participation.
• I showed my ID, I got my ballot, and I voted. Masks, social distancing, and sanitizers were in place at my location.
• I was told I had voted early; I had not. Was required to cast a provisional ballot. Who voted for me? They couldn't say as they don't require ID to vote early or on election day.
• Mail in voting went very well. The election officials and poll workers did an outstanding job.
• I do not agree with the mail in votes. Anything can happen to that vote in transit from damage to loss to fraud. There’s no way that anyone can 100% get the votes truly and fairly if mailed in. In person voting should be the only option. Maybe have a day for elderly separate from everyone else so they don’t get stuck in long lines.
• I filled out the ballot at home and dropped it off at the Drive through. Would like to do that for future elections.
• Mail in ballot procedure was easy and I was able to track ballot mailed.
• My personal experience was good. I received one ballot, filled it out, and returned it to the courthouse.
• My husband and I arrived at 5:55a at Taft School. Only 10 people ahead of us. But we had to wait in line for a half hour. Computers needed to be update with the early/mail in votes. One poll person told us that they arrived about 15 mins before us and they didn't think there was going to be any problems. haha
• Markers were used at my polling place and I question if my vote was recorded correctly. My son has been deceased for 5 years and he received a letter to contact the Cook County Clerk to have his ballot sent to him. Very upsetting.
• I tracked my ballot being counted on county clerk site and confirmed ballot counted.
• Lines were long for early voting; waited 1.5 hours
• I was never able to track my ballot request or the receipt of my completed ballot even though it was deposited in the box during early voting. My partner's vote was received and tracked on line - both were deposited together.
• I am against Voting by mail but am OK with filling out a mail-in ballot early and DROPPING it off AT A SECURE VOTING LOCATION
• As long as someone requests a ballot, I think they should be able to vote easily through the mail. Problems arise when ballots are sent out to the masses when they didn't request them.
• The real story is that as a voter and poll watcher I saw voters and election officials of both parties working together earnestly to vote, be sure every vote counted, and keep each other safe during a pandemic. This was true 99% of the time as I observed and I am confident this was true across the country.
• I requested a ballot by mail and dropped it off in a ballot drop box near me. This was an extremely easy process and I hope to be able to vote this way in the future. My husband voted early at the Abbington and said there was no wait and it was very quick and easy. And my daughter, who lives with us, voted on election day and said it was also a quick and easy process.

Was it fair?

More than 54 percent of Illinois voters who responded said they "strongly agree" that state election results were fair and accurate, and another 6.9 percent somewhat agreed, compared with 22.4 percent who strongly disagreed and 9.6 percent who somewhat disagreed. Similarly, more than 52 percent said they strongly agree and 6.6 percent somewhat agreed that national results are fair and accurate, compared with 30 percent who strongly disagreed and nearly 8 percent who somewhat disagreed.

Many made their political views known, sharing these thoughts with Patch:

• I am very disappointed in Trump's behavior (and that of the Republican Senate)
• This election was weighed down by too many conspiracies from both sides of the aisle. As an American, it was very disappointing.
• Our entire political history is woven with corruption. Why would the most divided election in decades by any different ? Because the people in control of the ballots tell us it is ? It seems to me that if any election would need to be scrutinized it would be 2020.
• I saw no Irregularities!!! trump’s an IDIOT and so is anyone that voted for him!!!!!
• They saw my phone case that supported my candidate when I was using a list to choose judges and tried to intimidate me and make me uncomfortable. I ignored them and finished my vote but not sure it was counted.
• I received my ballot by mail but dropped it off in the drop box at the Will County Clerk's office. With Trump, I didn't want to take any chances that my vote wouldn't be counted. I loved that drop boxes were provided.
• How can Biden win when other dem candidates were not voted for on the same ballot??? WTH Can you smell FRAUD?
• I strongly agree that state vote totals reported around the country are accurate and that state boards of election can be relied upon to weed out any fraudulent or improper ballots before reporting those vote totals. There is no evidence to support the claims by Trump or his supporters that there is widespread fraud--or indeed ANY fraud--in the vote tallies coming from any precinct in any state. These unsupported claims do nothing but erode public confidence in our democratic system, and obstruct the chance for a peaceful and expeditious transfer of power to president-elect Biden and his new administration.
• my son and his military comrades never received their mail in ballots. very suscpious since they are a large group of Republicans. US army
• Voting early in person worked out well. No long lines, was in and out in about 20 minutes. I was disappointed that MSM declared Biden a winner so quickly. Doesn't give me much trust in the Illinois Election Board. I also don't put much trust in all mail-in ballots being valid.
• Received so many mail in ballots - none were requested. When voted early worker questioned my signature. But mail in voters did not need to provide valid proof of identity in person - could be any fraudulent person - so much fraud especially with unemployment. I think would be the same with voting. Seems like when winners are declared like in district 14 all of the sudden they find more ballots I think this is fraud. All other districts were counted no questions but Underwood keeps showing up with more newly discovered ballots - I think it is usual democratic dead people voting
• The GOP fueled allegations of widespread fraud are a total and complete lie propagated by a bunch of sore losers. If Trump would have won, would he be singing the same tune?

And one reader was disappointed to miss out on a quintessential Election Day experience, telling Patch, "I did not get a 'I Voted' sticker at my polling place! First time ever!"

Related:

Election Results: How Illinois Voted
IL Reacts To Projected Biden Win: Celebrations, Demonstrations