In the last general election, some shenanigans seem to have taken place in St. Clair County, IL. East St. Louis Democratic Committe Chairman Charles Powell, Jr. and four others are accused, according to AP, of buying votes with cash, liquor and cigarettes. It's all here courtesy of the CBS 2 Chicago web site.
The push was to get Mayor Mark Kern, D-Belleville, elected chairman of the St. Clair County Board. According to AP:
State records showed that about $67,000 was transferred from the county Democrats to the (East St Louis) committeemen three days before the Nov. 2 election. Party leaders said it was for legitimate expenses, including providing rides to the polls for people without cars, and giving meals throughout the year to encourage people to vote.
Kern did win, but Charles Powell Jr. , at the time also an East St. Louis councilman, lost his re-election bid.
More from AP:
In March, committeemen Leroy Scott Jr., Lillie Nichols, Terrance Stith, and his wife, precinct worker, Sandra Stith, each pleaded guilty to a count of vote buying.
The four admitted in their pleas that they paid voters between $5 and $10 to favorably cast ballots during the Nov. 2 election. They also agreed to testify in future cases.
Cal Skinner, over at the Illinois Leader has a list of 51 East St. Louis residents who received "election expenses" cash from the ESL Democratic Central Commitee. A few got $400, most of the recipients received over $1,000. Cal's information comes from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
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