Fraud at polls!
Friday, Nov 4, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Actually, just another pathetic attempt at fraud, which is so rare that it’s easily caught…
A Madison County election judge is facing felony charges of voter fraud, only days before the election.
Audrey R. Cook, 88, of Alton is accused of sending in an absentee ballot in her late husband’s name. According to law enforcement, she said she did it because she believed it’s what he would have wanted.
Cook is a Republican election judge in Madison County, according to Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons. She was charged Friday with two felony election-fraud counts. […]
Gibbons said the county clerk’s office carefully examines every absentee ballot at multiple levels, including checking the names against the death records. The ballot was never opened or submitted, after a clerk found it had been submitted in the name of a deceased person, Gibbons said.
“The good thing is that it shows that we catch these things,” Gibbons said.
- Aldyth - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
At 88 years old, I would say that a stern lecture is called for. Perhaps even a finger wag.
- Precinct Captain - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
I’m sure we’ll hear the usual GOP crew blasting this case from wall to wall. /s
- Anon221 - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
Agree with Aldyth.
Looks like he just passed away in September-
http://www.pitchfordfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Virtus-Vic-Cook?obId=1093896#/obituaryInfo
They caught the ballot in time. Class 3 felonies have various levels the judge can choose from it appears according to the ilga website. A harsh sentence is not needed here IMHO.
- Big Muddy - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
Yea, an 88 year old widow get’s a pass on the felony charge. I second what Aldyth suggests, a stern finger-wag is in order here. Even Muddy has limits to his cold-heartedness.
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm:
I thought dead people only vote Democrat?
- AC - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
I just early voted, it was busy. A woman with a walker in the booth next to mine was telling her hard of hearing husband how to vote. She said, “You need to vote for Trump, don’t even worry about all those scoundrels on the rest of the ticket. Just vote for Trump and then we can go home!” It may have been a violation of electioneering laws, and it was sad, but also kind of funny in a tragic kind of way. I’m sure they were similar in age to this lady, I don’t think anyone said anything to them. If they were younger, I probably would’ve went to one of the election folks and said something, and that makes me question my own consistency. As for this woman mailing in a ballot in her late husband’s name, a lot of people, myself included, would have a tough time throwing the book at someone that age, even though we all deserve fair and equitable treatment under the law. Justice is supposed to be blind, even if it often isn’t.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
I’m waiting for Fox News to headline “REPUBLICAN ELECTION JUDGE FACES FELONY CHARGES OF VOTER FRAUD”. Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…
- Huh? - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
So if I understand things correctly, the Republicans are bleating about elections being rigged. And for the second time in a week, they get caught trying to stuff the ballot box.
The first one was in Iowa. Now Illinois.
- Last Bull Moose - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:29 pm:
I don’t think this even rates a stern finger wag. More of a sad commiseration.
- Highland IL - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
Dear Mr. Drudge Report, “That’s Mrs. Cook, not Cook County”
- Springfield Since '77 - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
Always some group that should get a break and not be required to abide by the law when they get caught… Rich people, poor people, young people, old people… Always some excuse… Two felonies… choose one, plead to one, suspended sentence. There should be some downside to intentionally breaking the law, regardless…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
So many levels of sadness, and I’m talking emotional sadness.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
where’s that il gop voter fraud hotline to call?
- Taco Cat - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
This really screws up the “dead people only vote democratic” jokes.
- JS Mill - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:53 pm:
I’d say more of a “now,now, now Mrs. Cook, only one vote per customer” and send her on her way.
At 88, she gets a pass. Plus, it is probably more about not wanting to let go of her dear daparted real fraud.
- Restore sanity - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:03 pm:
The same State’s Attorney who charged a mentally ill 18 year old as being a potential terrorist. It is easy to make an example of the weak. She of course should get some kind of punishment, but two felonies? Give me a break
- West Side The Best Side - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:11 pm:
Voter Fraud! Call out Trump’s Militia!
- cimbada - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
I think she should get the same sentence as any other person that committed the same crime. Age is no reason to lessen the sentence. If anything, at her age she should have known better.
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Cimbada: I agree she should be charged and it looks like she should be convicted. If I were prosecuting her, however, I would recommend the lightest sentence that could be proscribed. There are factors to consider at sentencing, and hers is a case where they all work in her favor.
- cover - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:30 pm:
= where’s that il gop voter fraud hotline to call? =
Call the Illinois Opportunity Project office in Rock Island…