County clerks work to prevent voter fraud

With election day less than a week away, the Cole County Clerk’s Office started training nearly 150 poll workers Wednesday.

Secretary of State Jason Kander also said there will be a task force combined of several state leaders working to prevent voter fraud.

Marvin Register, the Cole County Clerk, said he has only dealt with one voter fraud case in his 12 years of being clerk.

He said about two years ago they got a new electronic polling system that easily identifies who someone is to make sure the correct person is voting.

He also explains what they look for when it comes to voter fraud.

Register said if someone comes to the polls with their voter I.D. card or driver’s license there shouldn’t be any issues if they’re legal to vote.

Although it’s legal for voters without I.D. to bring in a piece of mail such as a utility bill to vote, Register said it’s his least favorite form of identification.

“I don’t like that utility bill. I don’t think it ever should have been in there.”

Register said anyone can go to a random mailbox and get a piece of mail and pretend to be someone else.

Register said they check with the Social Security Department, License Bureau and check for birth dates before election day.

“If those don’t come up or show up, maybe you’re like, wondering, ehh… Let’s look at this a little deeper. That’s what we’re looking for.”

He said if a poll worker has any issues during election night they call the Clerk’s Office or him personally for help.

Jason Kander discussed his statewide task force Wednesday.

Kander said it was set up to respond to voting violations during the election.

There are twelve members on that task force.

They include FBI agents, prosecuting attorneys and county clerks around the state.