Man charged with punching election judge at early voting site in Orland Park

CHICAGO (CBS) — A man has been charged with punching an election judge at a polling place in Orland Park, after refusing to wait in line for early voting on Sunday morning.
The 74-year-old longtime election judge said in his nearly 40 years volunteering at the polls, there have been a few arguments—but nothing like the violence he faced Sunday.
“I think he just made a very, very bad mistake is what he did,” said the male election judge who was punched. “We haven’t had, really, the political violence. This was, I think, just a young man that had some anger issues.”
The longtime election judge asked CBS News Chicago to conceal his identity, but said over the phone that it all started Sunday when Schmidt skipped a line of about 100 people waiting to vote at the early voting location at the Orland Park Township Office, at 14807 Ravinia Ave.
Officers learned Schmidt had tried to cut the line for early voting, and when the election judge told him to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, he refused. Another election judge was called to assist, but Schmidt again refused to go to the back of the line, and began yelling profanities.
“I got in his way to stop him,” the election judge said. “We exchanged some words, and then he hit me in the left side of my face.”
Schmidt also struck an 81-year-old woman and knocked her off balance, police and Cook County prosecutors said.
The election judge said another poll worker and a voter stepped in and wrestled Schmidt down until police came. Police said Schmidt resisted officers as well.
“Nothing political. He didn’t sound like he was from either party,” the election judge said. “He just sounded like he wanted to have his way, and that we were stopping him from having his way.”
The Pentagon said Illinois is among at least six states to activate some of its National Guardsmen ahead of the election Tuesday for fear of political violence. The Governor’s office denies this.
The FBI has launched a security command center and is ready to respond to any issues that pop up Tuesday or in the days after the election.
“Threats to election workers, foreign malign influence, cyberthreats, and acts of domestic violence,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Deputy Assistant Director James Barnacle.
Back in Orland Park, voters waiting in line Monday night called for political civility after violence found its way home to their voting site.
“The first thing that comes to mind is sadness at the state of humanity,” said Orland Park voter Greg Newton.
“There’s no reason for that whatsoever,” said Orland Park voter Bryan Tuscher.
The election judge said there is some bruising to his face and leg, but he was back at the polling station Monday to help voters cast their early ballots.
Schmidt made his first court appearance on Monday at the Bridgeview courthouse.