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Illinois man arrested for punching election judge while waiting in voting line

Illinois man arrested for punching election judge while waiting in voting line

US elections 2024 early voting

A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the state of Illinois for causing disturbance in voting line and punching an election judge on Sunday (Nov. 3), two days before the US presidential election. The man, identified as Daniel Schmidt, was arrested on Sunday by the police during the early voting.

Schmidt was charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated battery in public place, one count of disorderly conduct and five misdemeanor counts. The incident occurred at 11 am in Orland Park when police were dispatched to township office. Other people at the scene jumped in to restrain Schmidt until officers arrived.

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“Officers on scene learned that Schmidt entered the township building and walked past numerous other voters waiting in line to enter the voting area,” the Orland Park Police Department said in a press release. “An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, which Schmidt refused.”

“Schmidt attempted to push past that election judge and was prevented from entering by that judge and several other employees,” authorities said. “Schmidt began to yell profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking their glasses off.”

“At Orland Park Police Headquarters, the Cook County States Attorney’s Office was contacted and approved (2) counts of Aggravated Battery to a victim over 60 (Class 3 Felony), (2) counts of Aggravated Battery in a public place (Class 3 Felony), (5) misdemeanor counts of Resisting Arrest and one misdemeanor count of Disorderly Conduct,” said the Orland Park Police Department.

This is not the only incident of violence in the US election, with multiple attacks and threats being issued to disrupt the voting process.

The US election 2020 results ultimately led to protesters storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021—two months after the election and Trump being voted out of power.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Prashant Talreja

Prashant Talreja is an Assistant Editor at WION, specializing in sports: cricket, tennis, golf, football, etc. With over 10 years of experience in sports journalism, Talreja has pr...Read More