After finding out that DuPage County is investigating nine instances of voter fraud by mail that were submitted by people that are deceased, Representative Avery Bourne is fighting back. The State Rep is co-sponsoring a bill that would require county clerks to scrub voter rolls to remove people who are no longer living. The bill, which is HB 2513, will require county clerks to utilize certification of death records to update voter registration records. This would remove people who have passed away. Current law recommends it but it is not required.

The State’s Attorney’s Office in DuPage County announced that his office has been notified of nine separate instances where vote by mail applications were sent in by deceased individuals. Employees of the Clerk’s Office were able to identify the voter fraud and prevent any wrongdoing. 

Bourne says this is a common sense bill.

“It makes sense that when a death certificate is issued, other county records would be updated to reflect that death. HB 2513 makes a simple change to the Illinois Election Code, and says voter records ‘shall’ be updated rather than ‘may’ be updated. It’s common sense legislation that should have been adopted a long time ago.”

Bourne is hoping to see the bill get passed during the veto session in November.