DuPage Township Clerk Resigns Amid Election-Process Breach

DuPage Township Clerk Resigns Amid Election-Process Breach

DuPage Township Clerk Kulsum Ali resigned her office following the ballot-placement lottery for the April 6 DuPage Township election. The ballot-position selection was held January 27, but only in the presence of the Republican candidates’ representatives.

Illinois statute requires that the position on the ballot of certified party candidates be determined by a random selection method, typically done by lottery.

The Republicans reportedly won the drawing and will be awarded top ballot position.

The Township Clerk is responsible for the administration of the ballot-placement selection process. Notification was not given to the Democratic Party officials as required by the statute, according to the candidates’ attorney.

In a letter to Ali on February 2nd, Attorney Kenneth R. Menzel, representing the DuPage Township Democratic candidates, said that the Illinois Election Code provides that three days written notice of the time and place of that selection be given to each organization entitled to have poll watchers present. That would include the DuPage Democratic Township slate.

In a letter to the DuPage Township Board of Trustees, Democratic Supervisor candidate Gary Marschke said that the Democratic candidates agreed not to file suit to force the ballot-position choice to be repeated. Litigation was dropped with the expectation of a formal apology from the township clerk, but the clerk resigned without providing a response to the Democrats.

“We believe that the selection process and voting process of our elections are sacred and cannot be violated without penalty,” Marschke said in his letter. Referencing an agreement made through the township attorney, Marschke added, “I would like the DuPage Township Board to issue a formal apology to the Democratic Slate. [The agreement] should be honored.”