Illinois GOP files suit claiming Chicago ballot envelopes are improperly marked
(The Center Square) – Illinois Republicans are questioning the integrity of mail-in ballot envelopes from the Chicago Board of Elections.
The Illinois GOP joined Cook County State's Attorney candidate Bob Fioretti, Cook County Clerk candidate Michelle Pennington, Fourth District U.S. congressional candidate Lupe Castillo and registered voter Jaime Martello in a complaint filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court.
Fioretti said mail-in voters in Chicago are asked to declare their political party on envelopes used to mail the ballots, in violation of the Election Code. According the the complaint, "No part of the Code provides for the inclusion of any space for party designation of the political party of the voter."
Fioretti said the lawsuit would seek to discover how he said election laws were broken and voters' rights were violated in Chicago and in suburban Cook County.
"We seek an immediate order for both Boards of Elections to comply with the timetables of distribution of ballots, and an extension through Nov. 5, for issuance of votes by mail and extension [through] Nov. 21 for submission by voters by vote-by-mail ballots," Fioretti stated.
Fioretti said ensuring election integrity is part of the state's attorney's mandate and asked why current Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx was AWOL?
"I know for a fact, I've seen it, that they can cheat. You call the State's Attorney's Office, and we're still waiting for a response," Fioretti said.
Fioretti said he wants Foxx's job but didn't think he'd have to start doing it before the election.
According to Fioretti, his team has also found discrepancies in the way the Cook County Board of Elections is conducting the election.
"We need voter integrity, and I don't see it here in this county at all," Fioretti told The Center Square.
Fioretti added that Chicago Board of Elections statistics indicate that vote-by-mail ballots are down by almost two-thirds from four years ago at a similar time.
"We have numerous reports of mail-in ballot applications of voters who voted in the Republican primary not being processed in a timely manner or not at all until phone inquiries were made," Fioretti said.
Chicago Board of Elections Director of Public Information Max Bever offered a statement in response.
"The party-affiliation line on the Vote By Mail ballot return envelope is clearly identified as 'For Primary Election Only.' These ballot return envelopes are routinely used for each election in Chicago. As November 5th is not a Primary Election, voters are not expected to fill out this line and it is not required in order to process the ballot. All qualified Vote By Mail ballots will be counted for the November 5th Presidential Election. No Vote By Mail ballot will be rejected because this line is or is not filled out," the statement read.
Republican Cook County Clerk candidate Michelle Pennington urged Chicagoans to get out and vote and not be deterred by ballot problems or discrepancies.
Pennington said voters can go to ProtectTheVote.com if they see any voting issues.
"You can report there. There are lawyers and supporters there that are going to help protect your vote to secure this system, so that everyone across Cook County and in the city of Chicago has confidence in our elections," Pennington said.
Morris Pasqual, acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said last week that the U.S. Attorney's Office will operate a telephone hotline on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, to receive complaints related to the voting process.
"Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination, and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election," said Pasqual.
"Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process," Pasqual added.
Pasqual said that Assistant U.S. Attorneys and other staff will monitor the hotline. The hotline numbers, staffed on Election Day only, are (312) 469-6157 and (312) 469-6158. The Office's Election Day Program will be supervised by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan DeMarco.
In addition, the FBI Chicago Field Office will have Special Agents and staff available on Election Day to receive allegations of election fraud or other election-related complaints. The phone number for the FBI Chicago Field Office is (312) 421-6700.
Complaints can also be made to the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. by phone at (800) 253-3931 or online at CivilRights.Justice.gov .
