Illinois Republican Party

ILGOP Press Release: McKenna calls on Cook County officials to investigate voter fraud
10/21/2008

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2008

McKenna calls on Cook County officials to investigate voter fraud

Lake County Clerk & Sheriff investigating group for voter registration fraud

Organization submitted names of pets & dead people to clerk’s office

Group board member includes Blagojevich appointee

CHICAGO – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna today called on Cook County officials to launch an investigation into the voter-registration group Women’s Voices.

“This election is far too important to be hijacked by fringe groups registering pets and dead people,” said McKenna. “We must ensure every legal vote is counted.”

This weekend, news outlets including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Lake County News-Sun reported Republican Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Waller and Democrat Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran are conducting an investigation into potential voter-registration fraud.

Lake County Clerk Willard Helander announced that some voter registrations she received were for dogs, goldfish and dead people. Clerk Helander indicated that some of the registrations received into her office with incorrect information came from Women’s Voices, a so-called voter empowerment group for Americans. The Board of Women’s Voices is comprised of a contingency of partisan Democrat activists, including a high-profile board appointee of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Further, the Chicago Tribune noted that election officials in Oregon, Kentucky and other states have complained that the Women’s Voices project of registering voters has caused confusion in their states.

See letter below:

Dear Clerk Orr:

Last week, due to the recent events surrounding voter-registration fraud throughout the country, our general counsel sent a letter advising you of the potential for voter-registration fraud in Cook County.

This weekend, news outlets including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Lake County News-Sun reported Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Waller and Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran are conducting an investigation into potential voter-registration fraud.

Lake County Clerk Willard Helander announced that some voter registrations she received were for dogs, goldfish and dead people. Clerk Helander indicated that some of the registrations received into her office with incorrect information came from Women’s Voices, a so-called voter empowerment group. The Board of Women’s Voices is comprised of a contingency of partisan Democrat activists, including a high-profile board appointee of Governor Rod Blagojevich, William McNary. Further, the Chicago Tribune noted that election officials in Oregon, Kentucky and other states have complained that the Women’s Voices project of registering voters has caused confusion in their states.

In light of the recent investigation into Women’s Voices by Lake County officials, I am requesting you contact Cook County State’s Attorney Richard Devine along with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to conduct an investigation into whether the Cook County Clerk’s Office has received voter registration forms from Women’s Voices and whether those registrations, if any, contain inaccuracies as in Lake County.

I trust your office is being vigilant in combating voter-registration fraud in Cook County; however, this election is too important to allow fringe groups to alter our electoral system. It is imperative that every legal vote be counted.

I am asking for your written response to this request by the end of business Tuesday, October 21.

Sincerely,

Andy McKenna, Chairman
Illinois Republican Party

cc: Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart
Cook County State’s Attorney Richard Devine

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