Press Release
Monday, December 28, 2020
DUPAGE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE COMPLETES FOUR DISCOVERY RECOUNTS FOR 2020 GENERAL ELECTION – COUNTY CLERK CONFIDENT OF RESULTS
DuPage County Clerk Jean
Kaczmarek’s office recently completed four discovery recounts for the Nov. 3,
2020 General Election and found nothing that would suggest a change in
the outcome certified at the conclusion of the election. Petitions for four discovery recounts were requested
by candidates Jim Oberweis for U.S. 14th Congressional District,
Jeanette Ward for Illinois 25th Senate District, Bob Grogan for
Office of DuPage County Auditor, and Tim Whelan for DuPage County Forest
Preserve Commission District 4.
“I am confident of the
results of the recounts, just as I am confident of the results that were
certified last month,” Kaczmarek stated.
Altogether, ballots from 286
precincts were recounted out of a total of 930 precincts. DuPage County had
record turnout of 491,067 voters in the Nov. 3rd election. The
discovery recounts were made in addition to a state-mandated retabulation last
month of 47 precincts, which found no changes to unofficial totals prior to
certification.
Discovery recounts following
this election were unprecedented in DuPage County in terms of the volume of
ballots recounted including hand recounts of three precincts, the front and
back observation of each paper ballot, the recount duration of several weeks,
and the access of election records for review and transparency – all during
challenging pandemic conditions. The estimated cost to the County to conduct
the four recounts, including staff salary, exceeds $100,000. A candidate is
charged $10.00 per precinct for a discovery recount.
Discovery recounts began on
Dec. 7th with teams of Republican and Democratic election judges
working with numerous poll watchers, candidates and their representatives, and
County Clerk staff in the auditorium of the County’s Administrative
Building, 421 County Farm Road, Wheaton. The discovery recounts concluded
within nine days, followed by carrying out requests through Dec. 23rd
of further candidate review with staff of additional election records.
“I thank all the election
judges who served on these recounts especially during a pandemic,” Kaczmarek
added. “I’m proud of my staff who worked to fulfill all the recounts, after
completing an exhausting 2020 election cycle overlapping into the 2021
consolidated election.”