STATELINE (WIFR) -- Election offices in Winnebago and Boone County admit some voters were given incorrect ballots by election judges on Tuesday and now leaders in both counties are questioning the final vote.
"The problem has to be more widespread than what the election authorities are letting on," says John Sweeney, Republican.
Out of a combined 2,452 submissions, John Sweeney fell 37 votes shy of keeping his seat on the Winnebago County Board.
"You win, you win; you lose, you lose. I'm at peace with that but my concern is that when my wife and I went to go to vote that morning, we were both given incorrect ballots," says Sweeney.
According to election officials, seven voters were given incorrect ballots at the Our Saviors Lutheran Polling Station. Sweeney says two current County Board Members say his name was left off their ballot.
"I think it's completely unacceptable. One of the fundamentals of our country here is open and accurate elections and for people to have the responsibility on themselves to have to know that, I don't think is quite fair. Especially in a County Board Race where people may not even know who their county board member is," says Sweeney.
"People make mistakes. They don't mean to, it wasn't done intentionally, it's just human error," says Jean Crosby, winner of the Winnebago Co. Board Member District 16 race.
Crosby claimed victory over Sweeney Tuesday night. Crosby says the controversy doesn't take anything away from her victory but it does need to be addressed.
"We don't have people lined up at the door to be election judges, these are the people that are well indented and want to be a part of the process and want to be part of the solution. I believe giving this viability will cause our election judges to be more diligent and be better. It's a good conversation. It's a very good conversation to have and we all will benefit from it," says Crosby.
Boone County's referendum to use a new ambulance failed by 118 votes. I'm told voters were given the wrong ballots at multiple polling spots out there.
Once ballots are in, nothing can be done. We need to inspect our ballot and raise questions to the election judge if anything is wrong. It's our responsibility but election officials in both counties say they are taking the problem very seriously and training will be more rigorous.
Above is from: http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Bad-Ballots-Raise-Election-Concerns-372613332.html
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