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No evidence of claimed irregularity

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Illinois

* From a Center Square article entitled “Precinct committeeman saw ballots ‘all over the place’ while state board says no problems reported”…

In Chicago, 18th Ward Republican precinct committeeman Devin Jones said on election day he saw improper handling of ballots, poll workers trying to change ballots and Dominion machine malfunctions.

“They had ballots all over the place,” Jones said in an interview. “They had ballots on the desk where people checked in, they were eating chicken with the ballots sitting right there. They had ballots on a chair, under someone’s coat.”

“At this one particular precinct they were trying to redo the ballot, like remake the ballot [after someone left], which is not the proper process,” Jones said.

“I know we use Dominion in Chicago and I know that at more than half the predictions there were issues with the counter, the machine that you slide the ballots in which is how these people were able to have all these ballots laying around at different places,” Jones said. “A lot of the stuff I saw was these counter machines not working.”

Jones said he reported his findings to authorities but says he never got any follow up.

* I checked with the Chicago Board of Elections’ Jim Allen and asked if the report had actually been made…

No such complaint was filed with the Board. The Board keeps a database of all calls received on Election Day. Not one even resembles these allegations.

This did not happen and here’s why:

The ballot scanner captures an image of each ballot at the time the ballot is cast by the voter.

If anyone were to try to “remake” ballots after voters left or make additional ballots, that would not erase the original scanned images of the voters’ ballots. Instead, it would add scanned images and votes — and then create a discrepancy between the number of ballots cast and the applications for ballots (both paper and electronic poll book).

No such discrepancy occurred.

Further, that kind of a discrepancy would stand out like a sore thumb even more so this election, because more than two-thirds of the ballots in Chicago were cast before Election Day via Early Voting and Vote By Mail — and less than one third were cast in the precincts on Election Day. As detailed in the attached turnout report, that pattern held true in the 18th Ward. The turnouts in the 18th Ward also were comparable to turnouts in surrounding wards and the rest of the city.

The attachment is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:26 pm

Comments

You’ll pardon me, but what a giant load of crap. Anyone who actually voted this year knows that what Center Square reported is impossible for exactly the reason Jim Allen said. After we vote, we run our own ballot through the scanner. At that point we have voted. Period. Ballots laying around and being altered later? Give me a break.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:30 pm
=== In Chicago, 18th Ward Republican precinct committeeman Devin Jones said on election day he saw improper handling of ballots, poll workers trying to change ballots and Dominion machine malfunctions.===

Let’s get Jones in front of a Judge and testify under the possible charge of perjury… testify.

People claim all kinds of things these days.

Lawyers recently claimed “net zero” people were watching ballots being counted, as an example.

When facing possible discipline for that response, the lawyer changed the remark.

As Chris Christie said… “Put up… “

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Sorry. Auditions for the clown show are over.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:38 pm
I am sick of republicans attacking the voting process with lies. I served as an election judge in Chicago for 15 hours on Nov 3rd and if any of this stuff actually happened he would have had multiple ways to report it immediately.

Comment by illinoyed Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:43 pm
With this story, the author has finally crossed The Rubicon … sorry, no /s.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:48 pm
With this kind of fiction will Center Square start publishing poetry too? Watch out New Yorker!

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:49 pm
If you are going to make up stories, know enough about the subject to make it believable.

Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:49 pm
I don’t understand why CenterSquare is even publishing this.

If someone came to me with such a claim, I would ask for a copy of their affidavit to support their claim.

No affidavit, no printed story.

How is this any different than printing the ramblings of someone with severe mental illness?

The guy is obviously making this up and that’s on him. But giving it the illusion of credibility by printing this in any sort of published story lands fully on CenterSquare.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:51 pm
@Illinoyed

Careful! I’m a libertarian that tends to vote Republican I wouldn’t attack the voting process. Of course…I’m not exactly a Republican Party guy but nonetheless. Outside of certain circles in the Republican party I really think they’re making a grave mistake perpetuating the nonsense about Dominion and the process in general.

Comment by LTR Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:53 pm
“they were eating chicken with the ballots”

Don’t have to listen hard to hear that whistle…

Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 1:58 pm
=== I don’t understand why CenterSquare is even publishing this. ===

Because CenterSquare is a propaganda tool for the far right. Journalistic integrity is not a requirement.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:07 pm
I find neither the allegation or the ineptitude of the allegation shocking. The right has learned, long ago, that the allegations do not have to be reasonable, only that the allegation occurs. The next step, of course, is another media pawn picking up the report and saying “And now we hear of allegations of voter fraud in Chicago.”

And the lie circulates.

Comment by Morty Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:09 pm
Don’t have to listen hard to hear that whistle…

I thought so as well

Comment by Morty Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:09 pm
=== I don’t understand why CenterSquare is even publishing this. ===

The answer to why seems pretty clear: to undermine the legitimacy of the Democratic process, thereby undermining the legitimacy of rule by Democrats. What we can do about it is what I want to know

Comment by Bob Loblaw Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:10 pm
Devin Jones was out in Mt Greeenwood at the Blago/Trump rally. Speak in platitudes, give noe specific. THat.s the game plan

Comment by James the Intolerant Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:11 pm
See, this is the problem when we are all journalists.

Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:13 pm
In his sad little mind, the eating chicken part made his fable seem more believable. I wonder if he thought about also claiming some of the ballots had watermelon juice spilled on them. What an absolute loser.

Comment by former southerner Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:16 pm
Had to be chicken, didn’t it?
Not burgers, pizza, or subs, but chicken.

Comment by Flying Elvis'-Utah Chapter Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:18 pm
=Don’t have to listen hard to hear that whistle… =

I’d have agreed with that, except for the fact that Devin Jones is African-American.

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:19 pm
@LTR - of course not all republicans attack the voting process, but it seems like all those who attack the voting process this year are republicans. And the attacks are founded on lies. And that’s a bad bad scene.

Comment by illinoyed Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:21 pm
That’s it? It’s a shame the Biden van (stuffed with fake ballots) was tied up in Nevada.

https://tinyurl.com/y6rm9qvv

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:22 pm
But according to some, even sworn affidavits by eyewitnesses are insufficient proof of any reason to recount, audit, or otherwise investigate election tampering claims. Meanwhile, any one in Cook County ever get an email saying their ballot was counted?; never got mine, and they have the right email address, since I got the email that my ballot made it to the Clerk’s Office.

Comment by thisjustinagain Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:26 pm
=== But according to some, even sworn affidavits by eyewitnesses are insufficient proof of any reason to recount, audit, or otherwise investigate election tampering claims.===

If some you mean judges who are now routinely (sadly it’s routinely at this moment) dismiss cases with a lack of evidence to these claims.

If you personally have someone other that your own absentee ballot saga, respectfully, make your case…. or as Chris Christie has said…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:29 pm
=== even sworn affidavits by eyewitnesses ===

I heard that someone heard there was fraud somewhere.

Is not exactly evidence.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:33 pm
==he saw improper handling of ballots, poll workers trying to change ballots and Dominion machine malfunctions.==

Sheesh. I saw nothing during my 45 minutes in line. I’m a little jealous./S

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 2:58 pm
@Illinoyed

Gonna have to agree with you there. The number of people they’ve whipped up into a frenzy about the results of the election is a bit alarming too.

Comment by LTR Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 3:06 pm
@LTR look at us, agreeing, on the internet, in the comments section no less

Comment by illinoyed Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 3:19 pm
Center Square is no better than The View, Fox News and other opinion based entertainment shows.

Comment by Balloon Man Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 3:25 pm
Center Square with another load of misinformation

Comment by Newcomer Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 3:26 pm
This is a load of ***. Anybody that has ever worked as a poll worker knows the effort that goes into tallying the total. In Cook County, every voter signs in, a label is printed, it is placed on a label book where the voter then signs. Then, whether you vote via touch screen or paper, you insert your ballot into a scanner that dumps it into a locked box. Once the polls close, everything in the ballot box, label book etc is tallied and it HAS to match. There’s no possibility of “rigging” things even if you wanted to - and any suggestion of such w/o evidence is repulsive. All poll workers, which includes folks from both parties, have to sign and affirm that the totals are correct. If there is ANY discrepancy in the total, you have to figure it out and fix it right and then.

Comment by Failing New York Times Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 3:44 pm
Appreciate the craft - sprinkle in some parts that are undoubtedly true, like a handful of people improperly requesting ballots for the deceased in DuPage County, with baseless bogus claims.

Greg’s a trained propagandist. He knows what he’s doing and I’m sure the ends justify the means in his mind.

Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 4:01 pm
“He knows what he’s doing and I’m sure the ends justify the means in his mind.”

You should read what Bernie Schoenberg has had to say about him … https://www.sj-r.com/article/20141011/OPINION/141019885

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 4:25 pm
@Anyone Remember: thanks for that trip down memory lane. Bitter to read the same week we learn that a real journalist like Bernie is taking the buyout while Bishop remains polluting the news stream and taking the wing-nut handout.

Comment by Moe Berg Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 5:15 pm
Just saw this. Crazy. In the absence of accountability, people can sell anything.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-poll/half-of-republicans-say-biden-won-because-of-a-rigged-election-reuters-ipsos-poll-idUSKBN27Y1AJ

Comment by H-W Wednesday, Nov 18, 20 @ 5:24 pm