Chicago-area voting machine casts Republican candidate’s vote for Democratic foe

A Republican candidate for the Illinois state legislature was shocked to learn Monday that the vote he cast for himself at a Chicago-area library was erroneously cast for his Democratic opponent.

“While early voting at the Schaumburg Public Library today, I tried to cast a vote for myself and instead it cast the vote for my opponent,” Jim Moynihan said in a blog he linked to on Twitter. “You could imagine my surprise as the same thing happened with a number of races when I tried to vote for a Republican and the machine registered a vote for a Democrat.”

Mr. Moynihan is challenging Democratic incumbent state Rep. Michelle Mussman in the 56th District House race.

He said he also tried to vote for fellow Republican Larry Kaifesh in the 8th Congressional District race, but the vote was again cast for the Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, The Daily Herald reported.

Mr. Moynihan said he brought the error to the attention of a judge, who determined the machine hadn’t been calibrated correctly.

Jim Scalzitti, deputy communications director for the Cook County clerk’s office, said the machine in question was removed from service to be re-calibrated immediately and that there were no other reports of voters having similar problems.

Mr. Moynihan was eventually able to cast the correct votes, The Daily Herald reported.

“Clearly, I am concerned that citizens will be unable to vote for the candidate of their choice, especially if they are in a hurry and do not double-check their ballot,” Mr. Moynihan said. “I cannot say whether or not this was intentional, but Cook County voters deserve better and should not have their right to vote suppressed.”


« Return to Government

Partnership for a Connected Illinois 1337 Wabash Ave. Springfield, IL 62704 Phone: (217) 886-4228 Fax: (217) 718-4546 info@broadbandillinois.org