Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Fraud at polls!
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
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.

       

20 Comments
  1. - 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.


  2. - 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


  3. - 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.


  4. - 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.


  5. - AlfondoGonz - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm:

    I thought dead people only vote Democrat?


  6. - 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.


  7. - 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…


  8. - 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.


  9. - 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.


  10. - Highland IL - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:33 pm:

    Dear Mr. Drudge Report, “That’s Mrs. Cook, not Cook County”


  11. - 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…


  12. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm:

    So many levels of sadness, and I’m talking emotional sadness.


  13. - hisgirlfriday - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm:

    where’s that il gop voter fraud hotline to call?


  14. - Taco Cat - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:51 pm:

    This really screws up the “dead people only vote democratic” jokes.


  15. - 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.


  16. - 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


  17. - West Side The Best Side - Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:11 pm:

    Voter Fraud! Call out Trump’s Militia!


  18. - 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.


  19. - 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.


  20. - 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…


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Selected react to budget reconciliation bill passage (Updated x3)
* Reader comments closed for Independence Day
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Some fiscal news
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
* RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
* Groups warn about plan that doesn't appear to be in the works
* SB 328: Separating Lies From Truth
* Campaign news: Big Raja money; Benton over-shares; Rashid's large cash pile; Jeffries to speak at IDCCA brunch
* Rep. Hoan Huynh jumps into packed race for Schakowsky’s seat (Updated)
* Roundup: Pritzker taps Christian Mitchell for LG
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Live coverage
* Trump admin freezes $240 million in grants for Illinois K-12 schools
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller