Election Law Violations Alleged In Rock County

Early voting in Illinois just started on Monday and already we've had multiple reports of problems. Voting was briefly halted in Winnebago County and Rockford this week after a ballot mistake was discovered. In Cook County, a Republican state representative candidate claims his votes for the GOP were transformed into votes for Democrats. Officials blame a "calibration error."

Now there's allegations from Rock Island County of election law being broken. WQAD is reporting that Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney is accused of opening absentee ballots that have been arriving at the office:

In an email to local media, [Rock Island County Republican Party chairman Bill] Bloom claimed that the local Republicans “filed a complaint requesting an injunction… [after] poll watchers observed personnel at the County Clerk’s office opening absentee ballots.”

Bloom claimed that they can’t legally be opened until Election Day.

Not only could Rock County votes impact the gubernatorial race, but the 17th District Congressional race involving Bobby Schilling and Rep. Cheri Bustos.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider is concerned about the reports and is asking for immediate action:

In response to the clerk's apparent violation of Illinois election law, the Rock Island County GOP today is seeking a court order to (1) allow pollwatchers the ability to view the absentee ballot verification process; (2) require the Clerk to compare the absentee ballot signatures to the signatures on file for that voter; and (3) impound any ballot that has been improperly opened.

Schneider also says that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan recently issued an Advisory Opinion in which she specifically concluded that no absentee ballots or early vote ballots should be placed in tabulators prior to Election Day.

WQAD reports that a hearing was set for this morning, but there's no word on what, if any, decision was handed down.