Electioneering - Campaign Free Zone Policy

The Fremont Public Library serves as a polling place for local, state and federal elections. On each election day, all state and federal election laws are enforceable on library grounds.

On Election Day, the Election Officials shall place two or more cones a distance of 100 horizontal feet from the entrance to the room used by voters to engage in voting, which shall be known as the “polling room.”

When the polling room is located on the ground floor, then the markers shall be placed 100 horizontal feet from the Library’s main entrance. When the polling room is located on the second floor, then the markers shall be placed a distance of 100 feet from the patron elevator used to access the second floor. The area within where the markers are placed shall be known as a “campaign free zone.”

At or near the door of each polling place, the election judges shall place signage indicating the proper entrance to the polling place. In addition, the election judges shall ensure that a sign identifying the location of the polling place is placed on a nearby public roadway.

On election day no judge of election, pollwatcher, or other person shall do any electioneering or soliciting of votes or engage in any political discussion within any campaign free zone; no person shall interrupt, hinder or oppose any voter while approaching within those areas for the purpose of voting. Furthermore, advertising pertaining to any candidate or proposition to be voted upon shall not be displayed in or within the campaign free zone.

The area on polling place property beyond the campaign free zone is a public forum for the time that the polls are open on an election day. A person shall have the right to congregate and engage in electioneering on any polling place property while the polls are open beyond the campaign free zone, including but not limited to, the placement of temporary signs. The Library’s property ends at the bike path along Midlothian Road. Any campaign signs posted along the bike path beyond the Library’s property may be removed by the county. The Library has an underground irrigation system that can be damaged by metal stakes driven into the ground and reserves the right to remove any temporary signs that are placed in areas where the irrigation system has been marked.

(Reference: 10 ILCS 5/17-29)

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