Lake County Gazette

Failed State Senate District 26 candidate Maria Peterson has been condemned for electioneering at a polling place on Election Day, a violation of state law.

Local resident Marsha McClary said she saw Peterson outside of the polling station standing too close to passersby, not 100 feet away as per state law.

“At the Barrington Park District polling location, Maria Petersen was out in front and quite close to the doorway with some materials greeting voters. So I took some video and photos of that,” McClary told Lake County Gazette. “I was aware that there was a rule about being 100 feet away from the voting location. And immediately I didn't measure it, but it appeared that that was not the case. So I elevated it to our Barrington Township Republican group, and they were going to look into it.”

Peterson, a Democrat, was a thorn in the side of Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie’s reelection efforts.

McConchie was behind during the count but ultimately prevailed with 50.9% of the vote and 43,531 votes to Peterson’s 49.1% of the vote with 41,919 votes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

In the video provided to the Lake County Gazette, Peterson can be seen posted right outside of the Barrington Park District Fitness and Recreation Center on Election Day.

Peterson is pictured approaching possible voters prior to entering the polling place.

In Illinois, according to state statute 10 ILCS 5/17-29, campaigns as well as materials, signs and banners as well as candidate solicitation are disallowed within 100 feet of polling places.

In the video, Peterson is standing right outside the polling place entrance.

Lake County has released its own guidance on electioneering.

“Electioneering is publicly favoring one candidate or political party or side of a public question on the ballot, etc. It isn’t allowed within 100 feet of a polling place by anyone. The area outside the polling place where electioneering is not allowed is called the Campaign-Free Zone,” Lake County’s guide reads.

“The law allows electioneering outside the Campaign-Free Zone during the time the polls are open on Election Day. Anyone has the right to discuss politics, pass out political information, etc. on any polling place property, as long as they are outside of the Campaign-Free Zone.”