Lake County Gazette

Jay Swidler, Chairman of Vernon Township Republicans, said that Illinois' voter roll issues reflect years of oversight by Democratic leaders. He said the Department of Justice's (DOJ) latest filing signals a long-overdue push for accountability. Swidler made his statement to Lake County Gazette.

"The problems with Illinois' voter rolls didn't happen overnight — they've been building under years of Democratic inaction," said Swidler. "Citizens deserve better than a system that overlooks dead or relocated voters and fails to meet federal standards. The status quo is not just flawed; it's unfair to every legitimate voter in the state. This lawsuit forces overdue attention on a serious issue with election integrity."

According to Democracy Docket, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a federal lawsuit alleging that Illinois fails to maintain accurate voter rolls, which would violate the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The DOJ emphasized that states—not local officials—bear responsibility for voter roll maintenance. Citing data suggesting minimal or no removals in some Illinois counties, the DOJ questioned the state’s compliance. Illinois argued that local authorities handle voter registration and urged dismissal, claiming no NVRA violation and lack of standing.

The Center Square reported in August 2024 on procedures for election integrity within the Illinois State Board of Elections. The Board said that 839,119 out of almost 8 million registered voters are inactive. A voter becomes inactive after unsuccessful attempts to contact them. According to spokesman Matt Dietrich, "having a significant number of inactive voters is indicative of the state’s ongoing voter list maintenance efforts." He explained that these are "basically voters who are awaiting cancellation but federal law requires that we give them two federal election cycles in case they reappear at their current address."

The Illinois Policy Institute reported on early voting requirements in Illinois. To vote early, one must be a U.S. citizen, an Illinois resident for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by November 5th. Voters must also be registered and not serving a prison sentence. Early voting runs from September 26th to November 4th, with polling places varying by county. It is recommended to check with local election authorities to confirm early voting locations. While an ID isn't required for early voting, bringing one is advised in case of registration issues.

Swidler was first elected as Chairman of the Vernon Township Republicans in 2024 and resides in Buffalo Grove. According to the organization’s website, he is "focused on boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Vernon Township voters."