Massac County Clerk Juanita Wedeking-Newberry was surprised to find her county on a Judicial Watch list accusing Illinois counties of voter fraud.
According to voter data provided by Wedeking-Newberry, in Massac County 100.14 percent of residents 18 years or older is registered to vote — so the county has more registered voters than eligible voters. But the discrepancy is small, Wedeking-Newberry told SW Illinois News.
“I don't know why I am on the Judicial Watch because I am only .14 percent over on (Illinois Voter Registration System)," she said.
She said the county will purge voter registration rolls this month to update records and clean up inactive voters. The time frame follows Illinois guidelines and Judicial Watch's expectations.
The conservative foundation based in Washington, D.C. told all counties and states on its list to immediately update voter information or face lawsuits.
“Judicial Watch asked the states to 'conduct or implement a systematic, uniform, nondiscriminatory program to remove from the list of eligible voters the names of persons who have become ineligible to vote by reason of a change of residence, death or a disqualifying criminal conviction,' ” according to the statement. “The states are also asked to remove from voter registration lists 'noncitizens that have registered to vote unlawfully.' ”
The Illinois State Board of Elections requires counties follow maintenance procedures during odd-numbered years. Wedeking-Newberry provided a copy of the letter sent by the elections board to Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“Since the advent of the statewide voter database in Illinois, the SBE has continuously monitored voter registration levels in the various jurisdictions,” it stated. “You are either working from bad data, or are misunderstanding the data you have.”
A statement from Judicial Watch released April 11 alleges 11 states and numerous counties failed to meet Section 8 National Voter Registration Act guidelines. Judicial Watch sent letters to the states where the number of registered voters exceeds the number of voting-age citizens based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
"In its notice-of-violation letters, Judicial Watch warns that the failure to maintain accurate, up-to-date voter registration lists 'required by federal law and by the expectations of [state] citizens' will 'undermine public confidence in the electoral process,' ” according to the statement.
In Illinois, 24 counties are under close supervision by Judicial Watch.
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