Mazzochi Scores Court Win, But Lags In Votes

ELMHURST, IL – A DuPage County judge on Tuesday sided with Republican state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi in her lawsuit alleging the county clerk was improperly counting mail ballots.

At the same time, her Democratic opponent, Jenn Ladisch Douglass, continues to widen her lead. According to unofficial returns, Douglass was ahead by 341 votes as of Wednesday, an increase of more than 60 from a day earlier. Douglass had drawn 21,858 votes in District 45 to Mazzochi's 21,517. Both are from Elmhurst.

On Monday, Mazzochi sued the DuPage County Clerk's Office. A judge heard the matter the next day.

She alleged the clerk was verifying signatures on mail ballots by matching them to the ones on the ballot applications. State law requires they match the signatures on voter registration cards in master files.

The judge barred the clerk from comparing the signatures to mail ballot applications. Those that don't match voter registrations must be marked as "rejected," the judge said.

In a news release, Mazzochi praised the decision, saying the clerk's previous method would allow an "obvious way" for voters to commit ballot fraud.

"While the Clerk's improper procedures have already damaged the process, I will continue to fight for ensuring it is one conducted with integrity," Mazzochi said. "Voting by mail cannot work without stringent protections and secure procedures to ensure that a voter's identity is not stolen."

Mazzochi, Douglass and Clerk Jean Kaczmarek, a Democrat, have not returned messages for comment.

To be counted, mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks.

In the last week, Douglass has taken to Facebook to criticize Mazzochi's supporters' behavior at the clerk's office. The Democrat said the supporters were disrupting vote counting, but she gave no details.

Over the weekend, Springfield journalist Rich Miller presented documents that he said showed Mazzochi was using "trick tactics" in door-to-door surveys of those voting by mail.

In 2020, Mazzochi won with 54 percent over Democrat Jennifer Zordani. This time, Mazzochi lost more precincts in Elmhurst, which makes up much of the district.

This follows months in which Mazzochi has denounced officials in Elmhurst School District 205. She has focused on curriculum issues, including a plan for an "anti-racism assessment" at York High.

District 45 includes all or parts of Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Western Springs, among other towns.