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A social media post shows a copy of a ballot from the central
Illinois county that has for the U.S. Senate race incumbent
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth against Republican Peggy
Hubbard and Libertarian Bill Redpath. But, it’s Kathy Salvi who is
the Republican nominee in that race, not Hubbard.
“On Tuesday, October 11th, it was brought to my attention that
ballots drafted by the Schuyler County Board of Elections, and
approved by the Illinois State Board of Elections, incorrectly
listed one of my primary opponents as the Republican nominee for
United States Senate,” Salvi said in a statement. “Our campaign
legal team immediately took action and worked with the Schuyler
County State’s Attorney. While we came to the best remedy – to
sequester the hundreds of ballots that were distributed – this does
not solve the most pressing problem of election integrity and
transparency.”
Messages to the Illinois State Board of Elections and the Schuyler
County Clerk’s office seeking confirmation of the mistake and how
the mistake is to be remedied were not immediately returned. Early
voting for the Nov. 8 election in Illinois has been going on for two
weeks.
In a letter Salvi’s campaign shared with media, her attorney John
Fogarty Jr., indicates the Schuyler County State’s Attorney provided
information that a total of 45 people have cast early votes using
the incorrect ballot.
“I have requested, and you have agreed, that these ballots will be
sequestered and processed separately,” Fogarty said.
The letter also indicates 307 vote-by-mail ballots have been mailed
out with the incorrect candidate listed.
“I have requested, and you have agreed, that any such returned
ballots are sequestered and are not permitted to be counted,”
Fogarty said. “You have indicated that while the Clerk’s plan for a
remedy is not yet final, it is her current intention to send
corrected ballots and an explanatory letter to those three hundred
seven (307) voters who have already been mailed an errant Vote By
Mail ballot.”
Salvi said more needs to be done to correct the situation.
“There needs to be accountability at the county level for this
mistake and with the Illinois Board of Elections for approving the
ballots,” she said.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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