Alders Criticize Election Board Over Ballot Shortages

Chicago alderpersons questioned the Board of Elections' handling of a recent ballot shortage during a budget meeting at City Hall on Monday. The board attributed the issue to a computer glitch that occurred on Election Day. Staff members described the technical problem as a coding error that disrupted ballot distribution across multiple areas of the city.

Records reviewed by local reporters indicate that 24 of the city's more than 1,200 precincts experienced shortages. This figure represents approximately 2 percent of the total voting sites. Ald. Bill Conway of the 34th Ward asked Sandra Aspera, the board's executive director, if she believed the staff had performed well during the election.

Aspera stated that her team did a good job, arguing that the coding error created confusion and media attention. She noted that long lines resulted from various factors, not just the ballot error. Conway pushed back against this assessment, suggesting that many residents and fellow alderpersons would disagree with the board's self-evaluation.

Ald. Michelle Harris, chair of the committees and rules committee, called the situation egregious. She pointed out that some voters had to travel to different sites or wait for hours to receive ballots. Harris emphasized the inconvenience caused by the lack of sufficient materials at the polls. Aspera, who was appointed executive director about a year and a half ago, has served with the board for three decades.

The board is currently requesting nearly $48 million for its next annual budget. Several alderpersons advised Aspera to improve outreach efforts before the next municipal election in February. They suggested that better communication would help identify the appropriate contacts for resolving issues as they arise.