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Fraud at polls!

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Illinois

* 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.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:06 pm

Comments

At 88 years old, I would say that a stern lecture is called for. Perhaps even a finger wag.

Comment by Aldyth Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:11 pm
I’m sure we’ll hear the usual GOP crew blasting this case from wall to wall. /s

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:21 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.

Comment by Anon221 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.

Comment by Big Muddy Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 pm
I thought dead people only vote Democrat?

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:23 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.

Comment by AC Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:26 pm
I’m waiting for Fox News to headline “REPUBLICAN ELECTION JUDGE FACES FELONY CHARGES OF VOTER FRAUD”. Waiting, Waiting, Waiting…

Comment by Anonymous 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.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:28 pm
I don’t think this even rates a stern finger wag. More of a sad commiseration.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:29 pm
Dear Mr. Drudge Report, “That’s Mrs. Cook, not Cook County”

Comment by Highland IL Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:33 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…

Comment by Springfield Since '77 Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:35 pm
So many levels of sadness, and I’m talking emotional sadness.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm
where’s that il gop voter fraud hotline to call?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm
This really screws up the “dead people only vote democratic” jokes.

Comment by Taco Cat Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:51 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.

Comment by JS Mill Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 3:53 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

Comment by Restore sanity Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:03 pm
Voter Fraud! Call out Trump’s Militia!

Comment by West Side The Best Side Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:11 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.

Comment by cimbada Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:16 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.

Comment by AlfondoGonz Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:20 pm
= where’s that il gop voter fraud hotline to call? =

Call the Illinois Opportunity Project office in Rock Island…

Comment by cover Friday, Nov 4, 16 @ 4:30 pm