* Kyle Thomas at the Illinois State Board of Elections…
As reported orally at prior Board meetings, earlier this year, an effort was made to identify individuals who potentially cast more than one ballot in the General Election of 2016. Utilizing the Statewide voter registration database (IVRS), duplicate registration records were identified where more than one record for that individual had been marked as voted. The results of this effort were forwarded to the election authorities for investigation.
The majority of the records identified were found to have been mistakes made by jurisdiction staff whereby they (some dating back as far as the inception of IVRS), accepted duplicate registration matches for records that were, in fact, for separate individuals. This accounted for 765 of the 1,379 total records identified (each record reflects one voter registration record not one voter). We asked the election authorities to provide us the information on those cases and State Board staff took the steps necessary to unlink the records within the IVRS database. The next largest portion of records, found through the investigations by the election authorities, were record keeping errors at the time of voting. In many of those cases, a voter signed the wrong person’s ballot application (for instance a son may have signed a father’s application mistakenly). This accounted for 357 of the records.
However, the election authorities did report that of the 1,379 total records, 257 registration records appear to be double voting, which involves approximately 130 individual voters. Thus far, 65 of the records have been forwarded on to the appropriate law enforcement authority for further action and the remainder are still under review by the election authority or their internal counsel.
Click here for the accompanying spreadsheet. Lots more info in there. Of the 65 records forwarded so far to law enforcement, 18 were in Champaign County, 8 were in suburban Cook and 7 were in Chicago.
Over 5.5 million people voted in 2016, so this represents a miniscule 0.001 percent (one thousandth of one percent). But races can be super close (the Macon County sheriff’s race is still not decided), so vigilance is necessary. Kudos to the Board for taking a look at this.
Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) says he filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get the names of the alleged multiple-voters, but was denied.
* The Board’s spokesperson explains the law enforcement referrals…
We compiled that spreadsheet based on our contact with the local authorities, but the local authorities did the investigations and referrals to law enforcement where their legal counsel determined it was warranted. We don’t have legal authority to prosecute – that rests with the state’s attorneys in the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense was committed. We also are prohibited from giving legal advice to local election authorities, so our action here was limited to making the initial referrals to the locals.
* Illinois News Network…
There were seven possible double vote records identified in Sangamon County, but they were found to not be the same person and none were reported to law enforcement.
Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said he understands the concern.
“We would never tolerate a double vote here in Sangamon County, no county clerk would throughout the entire state of Illinois,” Gray said. “We go through great lengths to ensure that the protocols at the moment of issuing a ballot are followed” […]
[Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee] used the numbers to promote a measure to stiffen penalties for double voting. He also said he wants to get Illinois back into the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck system meant to help find voter registration irregularities. Illinois recently pulled out of the multistate Crosscheck program.
Gray said getting back in is not necessary. He said the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, Illinois and all neighboring states but Indiana are a part of is superior.
Dietrich said the state board is “hopeful that we can create a data-sharing agreement with Indiana for voter list maintenance efforts in both states.”
Crosscheck is worthless and even harmful. The state shouldn’t get back into it.
* Related…
* State Rep. Skillicorn considering 2020 congressional bid
* Rauschenberger says Skillicorn is ‘right fighter for the 14th’ District
- Fav Human - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
Steve R. is an excellent early endorsement. He was an excellent senator and is well respected in the area.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
Congresswoman Underwood. If ya dont wanna end up like Claire,i recommend staying off the Morning Joe.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:26 pm:
–Of the 65 records forwarded so far to law enforcement, 18 were in Champaign County, 8 were in suburban Cook and 7 were in Chicago.–
That’s a real blow to the Cook and Chicago legend of stealing elections.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
Seeing that number of Champaign County potential duplicates I wonder if there weren’t some students who voted absentee at home and then registered on campus and voted locally. I bet a few of them thought that the latter would cancel out and void the former but it’s also possible there was intentional malice there. I’m just speculating though, which I recognize is dangerous.
- Downstate Illinois - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:35 pm:
I’m not certain why the names couldn’t be released. We sell election data of who voted in what year to whatever campaign asks for it.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:43 pm:
==I’m not certain why the names couldn’t be released. We sell election data of who voted in what year to whatever campaign asks for it.==
This isn’t mere election data. Some people might be accused of committing a crime. And others might not be accused after the police look at the evidence. So why smear their names?Look at how many people thought to be double voters were just record keeping errors.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:46 pm:
“That’s a real blow to the Cook and Chicago legend of stealing elections”
Did you look at the data ?
In Chicago There were 287 voters identified - 128 were referred to election official and 7 referred to LE. Chicago had the highest number of referrals of all jurisdictions - just ahead of Cook county.
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
I would expect some Republican to come forward and exaggerate the issue and claim that we need stricter guidelines in allowing folks to register to vote.
- former southerner - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
Donnie E. @ 12:46
Given the number of votes cast in each area it seems those legendary cheaters in Chicagoland are underperforming compared to those upstarts in Champaign county.
- lakeside - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
I’m just here for the “man, what happened to Chicago?” jokes.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
SillySkilly has been roamin’ the state to whine about rampant vote fraud and the state board cover up. Lookin’ like did not happen. How about wettin’ yourself on Vets Home deaths and cover-up and the GovJunk PoisonPlant?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 1:29 pm:
I doubt Aaron Ammons will do a darn thing about this.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
===Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) says he filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get the names of the alleged multiple-voters, but was denied.===
Seriously? A state legislator wants names of people under possible investigation? This is a law enforcement issue not a political issue. Very unseemly in my opinion.
- Smitty Irving - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 2:21 pm:
Downstate -
Another reason not to release the names is the Wisconsin “fraud” that got Karl Rove so excited. Except for 1 case, the “fraud” was actually a Sr. and a Jr. / II / III voting. Could be the case here.
- newly Anon - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 3:07 pm:
My father has been dead for more than twenty years, and my mother, and then I, told the election officials until we were blue in the face. He’s still on the list! voting from the other side?
- Morty - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 3:21 pm:
‘Very unseemly in my opinion.’
It’s the hill Skillicorn has planted his flag on.
He posted a meme of Aztecs sacrificing victims on Colombus Day.
He is the poster child for unseemly
- yinn - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 5:06 pm:
I don’t worry about double voting. But I
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Mar 13, 19 @ 6:57 pm:
==Seriously? A state legislator wants names of people under possible investigation?==
My thoughts exactly. What does he plan to do, dox these people? Publicly humiliate them? What if they just have the same names as others or there is a clerical error? These people haven’t been indicted yet.