West Central Reporter

The Schuyler County GOP is calling out the Schuyler County Clerk over the offices handling of the early election.

Like all other Illinois counties Schuyler County allows a variety of absentee and vote-by-mail options.

Jason Goddard, Schuyler County GOP chairman, said in an email to West Central Reporter that early ballots had the improper GOP candidate’s name printed on them. The ballots read Peggy Hubbard, who was defeated in the March primary, not Kathy Salvi, the GOP candidate running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

“Here are the current facts that I am aware of…” Goddard told West Central Reporter.

“An early voter noticed on his ballot that Peggy Hubbard's name was on the ballot in place of Kathy Salvi.”  

“He took a picture of the ballot and posted it to social media. I was informed at appx 1930 on Tuesday 11 October of the error. I immediately reached out to the Schuyler County Clerk to see if it was true and if she was aware of the error.  I was unable to make positive contact with her on Tuesday evening.  On Wednesday morning the County Clerk called me back and said she had just learned of the error and was going to take immediate action.  I asked that she call me back when she had more information.  She called me back at appx 1200 on Wednesday.”  

“This is what she updated me with. It was indeed a human error that came from her office. 45 early voters have cast votes already on the incorrect ballots. 307 absentee ballots were sent out to voters in Schuyler County. All early voting was stopped immediately and the system was updated. It has been corrected and the ballots are now printing correctly. We have no idea on the status of the early ballots and how they will be counted. We have no idea on the incorrect 307 absentee ballots and how those will be counted. 307 corrected ballots are being sent out as we speak.”

“Currently Mindy Garrett the County Clerk has been open and honest and answered all questions as we have asked them.”  

Per Schuyler County Clerk Mindy Garett’s’s office, the clerk is tasked with running the county’s elections.

“Duties of the county clerk’s office range from administering elections to conducting a great deal of the state’s taxation duties,” the office’s website reads. The mistake is a large one.

Salvi has a been a major force as a campaigner, who has noted her disdain for the Safe-T Act.

“Setting criminals charged with crimes like second degree murder, aggravated battery and drug-induced homicide free without bond is just horrible for the people of Illinois,” Salvi said.

“The SAFE-T Act will have the exact opposite effect. It should be called the un-SAFE-T Act.”

“Cashless bail creates a catch and release system for violent criminals and leaves our communities unsafe.”

The state’s last Republican U.S. Senator was Mirk Kirk who lost to Duckworth in 2017.

Family PAC Federal Director Paul Caprio said he expects Salvi to make in-roads in historically blue Illinois.

“From what I know of Kathy Salvi, she is supporting – so I'm told – a very strong parents' rights agenda for her campaign,” Caprio told Prairie State Wire. “She is supporting, if elected, to the U.S. Senate, also the Hyde Amendment, which would prohibit federal funds. You know, people are wondering these days.”  

The Hyde Amendment prevents using federal dollars to carry out abortions. Salvi and Duckworth are on either ends of the abortion debate.