Orr: Reports of voters casting 2 ballots unfounded

Cook County Clerk David Orr says Republican claims of inappropriate voting in the Nov. 4 election are unfounded.

Orr told The Associated Press his office examined claims by representatives of Tom Cross's campaign for state treasurer that 235 voters may have cast more than one ballot. He says none did.

Orr says he welcomes input on the electoral process. But he was miffed that Cross' campaign publicized its suspicions before alerting authorities. Orr says that "hurts democracy" by raising questions about unsubstantiated charges.

Cross allies also questioned ballot accounting in Chicago. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners released a letter rebutting most of the allegations.

But the Cross campaign's concerns prompted Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk to seek a federal inquiry. The U.S. attorney's office hasn't commented on the request.