Ruling Favoring Elmhurst's Mazzochi Appealed: Agency

ELMHURST, IL – The DuPage County Clerk's Office has appealed a lower court's decision involving state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, who alleges the clerk is improperly counting ballots.

On Tuesday, a DuPage County judge granted Mazzochi's request for a temporary restraining order in the counting of votes. She is trailing behind Elmhurst Democrat Jenn Ladisch Douglass in Tuesday's election for House District 45.

The judge agreed with Mazzochi's contention that the clerk must match signatures on mail ballots with those on voter registration cards in the master file. Mazzochi asserted the clerk was comparing the signatures with those on ballot applications, which the lawmaker said would allow voter fraud.

A clerk's spokesman confirmed Wednesday that the office had appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court, asking for it to be overturned. Patch was unable to get a copy of the appeal, but has filed a public records request for it.

The clerk's office has not answered Patch's questions about its signature verification process.

Since Wednesday, the voting results in the District 45 race remain unchanged. Douglass had drawn 21,858 votes to Mazzochi's 21,517, a margin of 341 votes, according to unofficial results.

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

Wednesday's story on the Mazzochi-Douglass race includes more information about the latest battles.

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