County clerk says voter safeguards in place

SPRINGFIELD -- State election officials have been alerted about possible irregularities in Alexander County's voter registration lists, but the county clerk says safeguards are in place to help prevent problems in November.

A newspaper report suggested the number of registered voters may exceed the number of residents eligible to vote in the southern Illinois county. County Clerk Francis Lee says she hasn't had time to purge the rolls since taking office last year, but it's her "intention to get it cleaned up."

She says the process could take two years.

A spokesman says the Illinois State Board of Elections is aware of the irregularities but isn't currently investigating. The Illinois Attorney General's office also isn't investigating.

The county has experienced voting problems in the past. An incident in 2000 had former clerk Louis Maze indicted for vote fraud.