The longtime director of the Danville Election Commission is stepping down weeks after Republicans scrutinized how ballots were handled.
Barbara Dreher says she was considering retiring later, but this month’s election was stressful with policy changes. Dreher came under fire for processing absentee ballots ahead of the election, something some jurisdictions have done for years. But Republicans objected and filed a lawsuit in Rock Island County alleging mail-in votes were opened early
Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued an opinion saying no counting should start until polls close on Election Day. However, she didn’t offer clarification on processing, when they’re opened and scanned into a tabulation machine.
Clerks said waiting to do so until polls close would mean delays.