Will County Gazette

Will County Board Member Raquel Mitchell says voter fraud exists and needs to be addressed.

"We need to stop playing politics with one of our greatest rights in this country and that is the right to vote," Mitchell said in an interview with Will County Gazette.

Mitchell said it should always be one citizen, one vote.

"This just proves that voter fraud does exist," Mitchell said. "And we need to stop burying our heads in the sand and playing around with the facts."

The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office recently filed felony election fraud charges against five individuals that pertained to the 2020 general election.

However, Robert Berlin, the state's attorney for DuPage County said that election fraud represented "an infinitesimal percentage” of the county's votes.

“Elections are a sacred duty and while the five defendants charged today represent an infinitesimal percentage of the 491,067 votes cast in the 2020 general election, it is important that anyone suspected of attempting to interfere in any way in the election process be investigated and charged where appropriate."

The question of election integrity has come into focus following reports of widespread irregularities across the country in the past presidential election.

The prosecution announcement comes as Sen. Darren Bailey has called on the state to return to paper ballots in order to better track votes.

The Republican from Louisville is running for the GOP nomination for governor.

"Paper ballots aren’t hooked to a modem, connected to the internet, and susceptible to hackers or electronic fraud," Bailey said in a press release. "They are clear, they are simple, and they are easy for voters to use. I firmly believe that paper ballots are the best and most reliable way to secure our vote counts and to restore public confidence in elections."

Arrestees include:

• Adam P. Butler, 51, of Lisle. Charged with one count of forgery and one count of perjury in Election Code. Both charges are a Class 3 Felony.
• Thomas E. Wojciechowski, 73, of Carol Stream. Charged with one count of perjury in Election Code, a Class 3 Felony.
• Colleen A. Kirchoff, 60, of Naperville. Charged with forgery and perjury in Election Code. Both charges are a Class 3 Felony.
• Darrick Kent, 43, of Austin, Texas. Charged with one count of perjury in Election Code, a Class 3 Felony.
• Amy Kent, 41, of Austin, Texas. Charged with one count of perjury in Election Code, a Class 3 Felony.