State's Attorney Monitoring Election for Fraud

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 21, 2011 2:30PM

We already know that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office is keeping an eye on tomorrow's election for any hanky panky. Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said during a news conference yesterday that, with over 200 candidates on the ballot in 43 ward races throughout the city in addition to the mayoral election, her office is on "high alert" for instances of voter fraud. “We anticipate that election activity, legitimate or otherwise, will be at an all-time here in the city of Chicago,” Alvarez said. The 24th Ward alone has a field of 18 candidates for alderman.

Alvarez's office has assigned 200 assistant state's attorneys to deal with election day issues tomorrow, which is typically the number her office allots for elections throughout the county. Another 80 of her staff will be assigned to nursing homes across the city. Alvarez also asked for help in finding four people for questioning with petition fraud in the mayoral and various aldermanic races.

Persons with information regarding the four individuals — Arthur Hardy Jr., Jerin Tines, Carey Sparks or Bishop Sparks, and Marva Harris — are asked to call Alvarez's office at (773) 674-3020. The State's Attorney's office Election Day Hotline is (312) 603-7960.