Illinois: Special election brings challenges, extra costs | Bloomington Pentagraph

The special election to determine who will fill the 18th Congressional District seat vacated by Aaron Schock brings a variety of challenges, and some unexpected costs, for election officials — and some confusion for voters. “We had a man come in for early voting, but he doesn’t live in the 18th Congressional district so couldn’t vote,” said Paul Shannon, executive director of the Bloomington Election Commission that coordinates elections within the City of Bloomington. McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael, who administers elections outside of Bloomington and within the county, said the same thing has occurred in her office. McLean County is split between two Congressional districts, the 18th and the 13th. Only voters in the 18th can cast a ballot in the July 7 special election.

Illinois: Counties ask former Rep. Aaron Schock to pay special election costs | Associated Press

Another Illinois county voted to ask former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock to pay for costs associated with electing his replacement in the 18th District. The McLean County Board approved sending a letter to the Peoria Republican asking him to pay $200,000 for the July 7 primary and Sept. 10 election, WJBC radio reported. Early voting has already started. The board noted that Schock’s congressional campaign committee had $3.3 million on hand when Schock resigned in March amid questions about his spending, including having his Washington office decorated in the style of the TV show “Downton Abbey.”

Illinois: Election Schock: Special Election Triggers Early Onset Of New Law | WUIS

Former Peoria Republican Congressman Aaron Schock’s fall from political grace set in motion an unexpected special election, and that has unexpected consequences for county clerks. On July 7, primary voters in the 18th Congressional district will get their first crack at choosing who’ll represent them in D.C., following Aaron Schock’s resignation. Anyone who forgot to register to vote beforehand will be able to do it that day. That’s thanks to a law that was intended to be in place for the first time for next year’s elections. McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael and others had asked legislators to delay the law until then. It never happened.

Illinois: Special election forces decision on same-day voter registration | Herald and Review

State lawmakers are trying to help county clerks manage the upcoming special election for former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s seat in Congress. But with the clock ticking on the July 7 special primary election, some clerks in the 18th Congressional District say the deadline for action by the General Assembly has passed already. Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said Tuesday that he is moving ahead with plans to comply with a new law requiring counties to allow voters to register and vote on election day at each polling place.”I don’t have time to waste,” Gray said. “I think all of us have that same mindset,” Logan County Clerk Sally Turner said.

Illinois: Some clerks moving forward with Schock election | Bloomington Pentagraph

State lawmakers are trying to help county clerks cope with a new voter registration law for the upcoming special election for former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s seat in Congress. But with the clock ticking on the July 7 special primary election, some clerks in the 18th Congressional District say the deadline for action by the General Assembly already has passed. Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray said Tuesday he is moving ahead with plans to comply with the new law requiring counties to allow voters to register and vote on the day of the election at each polling place. “I don’t have time to waste,” Gray said.

Illinois: Justice intercedes for Illinois military, overseas voters | Military Times

Justice Department officials have reached an agreement with Illinois election officials to help ensure military members, their family members and U.S. citizens living overseas get their absentee ballots in time to vote in the upcoming special primary election and special election. The special election is being held to fill the vacant seat in the 18th congressional district resulting from the resignation of Republican Rep. Aaron Schock on March 31. The agreement establishes July 7 as the date for the special primary election; and Sept. 10 as the date for the special election. Under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act, election officials must transmit ballots to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before the upcoming election, including special elections.

Illinois: Unfunded mandate and special election puts pressure on counties | CIProud

Counties across the 18th district are tightening their wallets. Between government cuts, unfunded mandates, and now, the special election, counties across the region are scrambling to meet certain requirements. Tazewell County officials say the special election will run them close to $200,000, aand this is on top of an upcoming unfunded mandate putting counties like Tazewell in a tough spot. “We’re kind of up against the gun right now,” Tazewell County Board Chairman David Zimmerman said. A new mandate from the state requires all counties to have same day voter registration by June 1st. “We’re going to have to have a computer or a tablet plus a hotspot or an air card in every one of these facilities,” Zimmerman said.

Illinois: Schock Donor Sues Ex-US Congressman Seeking Reimbursement | Associated Press

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s legal problems expanded Wednesday as a contributor sued to force the repayment of millions of campaign dollars, saying he was tricked into believing the young lawmaker who has since resigned amid questions about his spending was “a breath of fresh air” in a corruption-riddled state. The unusual lawsuit filed by Howard Foster, a Chicago lawyer who pitched in just $500 to Schock, cites Illinois’ long history of political and financial shenanigans — from a pre-Civil War governor to former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s recent prison term for misusing campaign funds — and plants Schock among them in claiming his fundraising arm was a corrupt racket. One election-law expert said he’s never seen such a lawsuit and predicted legal obstacles.

Illinois: Woodford may also ask Aaron Schock to help defray cost of special election and primary | Peoria Journal Star

Woodford County could become the second county in the 18th Congressional District to ask former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock to pony up for special election expenses. The county finance committee approved Monday a measure that will be taken before the full board next month that, if approved, will make a request to Schock to reimburse the county up to $125,000 in costs for a primary and election to replace him. Schock’s resignation became effective April 1, vacating the seat the Peoria Republican held in Congress for six years. His replacement must be selected by his constituents in a costly election not planned during the last budget cycle.