10-30-2008, 07:15 AM
Vote fraud suit moved to federal court
Case likely won't be heard before Nov. 4
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October 30, 2008
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
A lawsuit asking for an injunction ordering 5,000 newly registered voters in Lake County to cast provisional ballots in Tuesday's election has hit a wall.
The suit, which was filed by Republican Party state and county officials Tuesday and alleges registrations turned in by Citizen Action/Illinois are "fraudulent, incomplete or illegitimate" was moved to federal court following a Lake County Circuit Court hearing Wednesday.
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Venturi
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Link
Republicans are hoping a U.S. District Court judge in Chicago decides jurisdiction this week and sends it back to Lake County.
Lake County Republican Committee Chair Dan Venturi of Lake Villa called the motion to transfer the case by Citizen Action attorney Michael Kasper "a delay tactic."
"It could and should have been resolved today," said Venturi, who added the case will likely be delayed until after the election. "If these ballots aren't flagged, these people are going to vote."
Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who doubles as Lake County Democratic Committee chairman, called the suit "a desperate reach," and "a tactic" being used by Republicans nationwide in an effort to stymie an avalanche of new young and minority voters who they fear will vote Democratic.
In Lake County, approximately 28,000 new voters have been added to the rolls.
"They're trying to suppress the vote, especially in North Chicago and Waukegan, in African-American areas," Link said. "You don't see them challenging people in Lake Forest or Barrington. If there are illegal registrations, the clerk should find them. If she can't, she should hire more people."
Alleged irregularities on 1,000 voter registration applications reported last week by Helander and now under investigation by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, include fictitious names -- one for "Princess Nudelman the fish" -- bad addresses and multiple forms filled out in identical handwriting. Democrats reason that if 1,000 of the 5,000 registrations allegedly turned in by Citizen Action registrars -- the group says it only registered 600 people in Lake County -- are illegitimate, the majority of them could be.
Link and attorneys for Lake County Democrats argue current law offers plenty of safeguards against voter fraud.
"Any problem voter registrations are either stopped by her (Helander) or put in the system and flagged and those voters are asked to show an ID," said attorney Michael Kreloff. "We believe the system is working. No fish is going to show up to vote."
Another attorney, Matthew Flamm, cited a study that found only 24 people in the U.S. were convicted of voter fraud between 2002 and 2005.
Case likely won't be heard before Nov. 4
Recommend
Comments
October 30, 2008
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
A lawsuit asking for an injunction ordering 5,000 newly registered voters in Lake County to cast provisional ballots in Tuesday's election has hit a wall.
The suit, which was filed by Republican Party state and county officials Tuesday and alleges registrations turned in by Citizen Action/Illinois are "fraudulent, incomplete or illegitimate" was moved to federal court following a Lake County Circuit Court hearing Wednesday.
» Click to enlarge image
Venturi
» Click to enlarge image
Link
Republicans are hoping a U.S. District Court judge in Chicago decides jurisdiction this week and sends it back to Lake County.
Lake County Republican Committee Chair Dan Venturi of Lake Villa called the motion to transfer the case by Citizen Action attorney Michael Kasper "a delay tactic."
"It could and should have been resolved today," said Venturi, who added the case will likely be delayed until after the election. "If these ballots aren't flagged, these people are going to vote."
Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, who doubles as Lake County Democratic Committee chairman, called the suit "a desperate reach," and "a tactic" being used by Republicans nationwide in an effort to stymie an avalanche of new young and minority voters who they fear will vote Democratic.
In Lake County, approximately 28,000 new voters have been added to the rolls.
"They're trying to suppress the vote, especially in North Chicago and Waukegan, in African-American areas," Link said. "You don't see them challenging people in Lake Forest or Barrington. If there are illegal registrations, the clerk should find them. If she can't, she should hire more people."
Alleged irregularities on 1,000 voter registration applications reported last week by Helander and now under investigation by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, include fictitious names -- one for "Princess Nudelman the fish" -- bad addresses and multiple forms filled out in identical handwriting. Democrats reason that if 1,000 of the 5,000 registrations allegedly turned in by Citizen Action registrars -- the group says it only registered 600 people in Lake County -- are illegitimate, the majority of them could be.
Link and attorneys for Lake County Democrats argue current law offers plenty of safeguards against voter fraud.
"Any problem voter registrations are either stopped by her (Helander) or put in the system and flagged and those voters are asked to show an ID," said attorney Michael Kreloff. "We believe the system is working. No fish is going to show up to vote."
Another attorney, Matthew Flamm, cited a study that found only 24 people in the U.S. were convicted of voter fraud between 2002 and 2005.