Group to investigate possible voting errors in Boone County

 

 

By Adam Poulisse
Staff writer

Posted Mar. 18, 2016 at 12:01 AM

BELVIDERE — The organization Friends of North Boone Fire Protection District is looking into complaints by some residents who say they were given the wrong ballot in Tuesday's primary election, and were unable to vote on a proposed property tax increase that would improve ambulance service in the fire district.

"We're just looking into our options," said Becky Gratz, president of the group. "I just know there have been a lot of mistakes. We're trying to find out more from the people voicing these mistakes to us."

The measure failed Tuesday by a vote of 1,523-1,405. It would have created a 0.05 percent property tax to cover costs of dispatching the North Boone Fire District ambulance. The ambulance is not currently in the Boone County 9-1-1 system; Capron Rescue Squad answers the emergency calls made to that district.

The fire district owns an ambulance, but it is dispatched only when calls are made to the Sheriff Department's non-emergency line, according to Fire District 3 Secretary Heath Morrall.

The district has a population of about 13,500 people in Poplar Grove, Manchester and Caledonia townships.

"I wish we knew for certain people got the right votes," Gratz said. "If a mistake was made in three of seven precincts, that could be detrimental for us. That's why we need to follow up with the complaints."

Manchester Township encompasses District 3 and District 5. Morrall said he was told poll workers distributed ballots containing the referendum in District 5, which was not affected by the measure. Ballots with the referendum eventually ran out, he said.

"People who lived outside of District 3 were given the wrong ballots," Morrall said.

He said Boone County Clerk Mary Steuer told him the mistake was the result of "human error."

However, Steuer told the Register Star today she wasn't aware of any problems.

"We never heard they ran out," she said. "We never ordered a whole lot. Generally speaking, in a primary, people don't come out."

Gratz, Morrall and Steuer said some people who reported getting the wrong ballot were confused about the district in which they lived.

Gratz said she is disappointed the motion failed.

"I wish we would have won," she said. "We tried to educate the public and held two public meetings."

Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse

ABOVE IS FROM: http://www.rrstar.com/news/20160318/group-to-investigate-possible-voting-errors-in-boone-county