They’re breaking locks to vote in Naperville — sort of
By Cindy Cain ccain@stmedianetwork.com April 9, 2013 11:10AM
Lockport resident Brian Boland steps back from the booth after marking his ballot in Central Square Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Lockport. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: April 10, 2013 2:34AM
When Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots says voting is important, she means it.
Voots authorized her first forced entry into a polling place early Tuesday when election judges reported for duty and found the building locked tight.
Election judges are supposed to start their day at 5 a.m. setting up election materials before the polls open at 6 a.m. But the Tall Grass Clubhouse at 3324 Deering Bay Drive in the Naperville portion of Wheatland Township was closed.
Voots said two contact numbers she had for the building led only to voicemail messages and no one could be reached to open the clubhouse. Voots even sent police to the contacts’ homes, but no one answered.
After consulting with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, Voots authorized her field technician to break into the building. He used a screwdriver to pry the lock open, she said. All the alarms were set off in the building, but the judges were able to get in and open on time so no voters were turned away, Voots said.
“We did get it open,” Voots said. “In the long run, it turned out pretty good.”
