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County one of dozens facing ballot problems

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At last Tuesday’s primary election, Macoupin County was one of dozens of counties across the state that had ballots that were printed slightly too large. Several questions have been raised concerning the difficulty in voting last Tuesday, therefore Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan compiled a list of common questions so everyone will know what caused this to happened, what steps were taken locally, and how we protected the integrity of the voters of Macoupin County.

Why did the ballots not fit into the tabulator machines?

ABS Graphics, the printing house used by Macoupin’s vendor to print ballots for many elections, had this to say: “…The ballots we printed were not able to be processed correctly. Although ABS is continuing to assess the problem, the company has identified a single production line in which the width of the trim was slightly wider than the stated scanning equipment tolerences.  This discrepency escaped the rigorous testing procedures continuously performed by the company, and resulted in a small percentage of the ballots being affected.

The company apologizes for any inconveniences to governmental units and voters affected by the problem.  We will continue to evaluate and strengthen our testing procedures even further to prevent this from ever occurring again.”

Why did this only happen in Macoupin County?

It did not. Dozens of counties across the state faced this same unprecedented problem.

Why did Macoupin County not test the ballots before Election Day?

Macoupin County followed state statute in having a pre-test of ballots from all precincts run before Election Day. While this large test deck was printed from the same company, there were no issues of ballots being too large for the machine during this test. Once printed, ballots are left in shrink wrap until opened by judges on Election Day to prevent any accusations of tampering with ballots.

What did Macoupin County do to fix the problem?

Once the County realized nearly all precincts were effected, judges were asked to trim a sliver less than one eighth of inch so the ballot would fit the machine. As the precincts checked in at the end of day, a procedure was put in place that required any precinct experiencing any problem was immediately checked in and ballots, tabulators and official ballot records were taken to experienced Democrat and Republican election judges.  These judges then individually ran each ballot through the tabulator, verifying that the total count on the tabulator reflected the ballot being read and counted. Every step possible was taken to ensure that each vote was counted and counted correctly.

Who decided on the procedure to fix the problem and have the ballots rerun?

Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan made the decision working in conjecture with the State Board of Elections. Overseeing the process on Election Night were two representatives from the State Board of Elections, an Assistant State’s Attorney of Macoupin County, the Democrat and Republican County Chairmen, nearly all candidates (or their representatives) in contested races, members of the media, as well as any member of the general public who wished to be present.

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How much did the incorrectly printed ballots cost the taxpayers?

Not a single dime. Duncan said he would take any step necessary to guarantee Macoupin County taxpayers will not be charged for the incorrectly printed ballots or any of the extra work required to fix the problem.

Why did it take so long for Macoupin County election results to be released?

In November 2010, just one tabulator had an issue that required all ballots to be rerun. Because that problem caused results to be reported that were incorrect, many news reports proclaimed one candidate a winner who after the ballots were reran turned out not to be the winner. Duncan was elected County Clerk in November 2010 and said at the time, “The press, public and candidates must depend on the accuracy of the information coming from a county clerk’s office, and the process necessary to ensure its accuracy is the county clerk’s responsibility.”2 Duncan made the call this election not release any results until all votes had been counted saying “Our goal is not to get results out quickly, but to get votes counted correctly, however long it takes.”

Why was Macoupin County the last County to have results reported?

Macoupin County was not the last county to have results reported. Winnabago County, near the Wisconsin border, was still counting votes until 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday as just one example.

What steps will be taken to prevent this problem from happening in November?

Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan has already begun work to ensure this issue does not happen again, including working with the State Board of Elections to put in place new procedures and checks to verify ballots are printed correctly.

Was every vote counted?

Duncan assured all voters that if they exercised their right to vote at last Tuesday’s election, every step possible was taken to make sure their vote was counted and counted correctly.

Any voters or taxpayers with a question or concern about the election is encouraged to call the Elections Office at (217) 854-3214 ext 707.

 

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CUSD 7 News

Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship

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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.

The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.

From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.

Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.

Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.

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Macoupin County residential fire claims multiple victims on Saturday

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Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday morning in Macoupin County as a residential structure fire broke out in the 200 block of West Dean Street, Virden, resulting in the death of a male victim, the Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya announced.

The individual was pronounced deceased at 10:06 AM but the identity of the deceased has not yet been released, as authorities await the results of an autopsy scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025. The coroner’s office indicated that a press release will be issued following the autopsy and the positive identification of the victim.

WAND reported a second victim died after being transported to Springfield Memorial Hospital according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon who confirmed a 13-year-old boy and a 34-year-old male were the victims.

The fire reportedly started around 9:30 a.m. and the home was fully engulfed when first responders arrived. Two people were reportedly rescued and life flight was requested but were not available due to the foggy weather conditions. 

An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, involving multiple agencies including the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office, the Virden Police Department, the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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Missions group to host trivia fundraiser on March 30

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Come and join us for an exciting afternoon of trivia as we support our local 2:18 Missions! Mark your calendars for Sunday, March 30 from 2 to 5 PM for an event that promises fun, camaraderie, and a chance to make a difference in our community. The event will be held at DeStefane Community Center in Benld, 201 East Central Avenue.

Teams of up to 10 people can participate for just $100 per table. Whether you want to reserve your table in advance or simply show up on the day of the event to pay at the door, we welcome all trivia enthusiasts to join in the competition!

Feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks to enjoy during the game—just please remember, no alcohol is allowed. For your convenience, we will have bottles of water available for purchase.

The stakes are high, and the competition is fierce! The first-place team will take home a prize of $150. Plus, bring some dollar bills to participate in “Heads and Tails” games during breaks and to buy mulligans for your team.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support a great cause while enjoying a lively trivia challenge. To reserve your table or for more information, contact Kristin at 217-691-7469.

Let’s make this a memorable event for our community and the 2:18 Missions!

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