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La Salle County GOP ballot challenge postponed again, now set for March 19

Case won’t be settled until 5 months past Election Day, if then

By Tom Collins
Voters fill booths Nov. 3, 2020, at the Oglesby Elks.

Voters fill booths Nov. 3, 2020, at the Oglesby Elks.

The GOP’s challenge of La Salle County mail-in votes has been moved again, and won’t be settled until March 19 – if then.

A hearing was scheduled Wednesday on the La Salle County Republican Central Committee’s case against La Salle County Clerk Lori Bongartz over her handling of mail-in votes. The GOP believes some of the votes should be voided, which, in turn, could void the race for state’s attorney.

However, Grundy County Judge Scott Belt’s office confirmed a continuance was sought Feb. 2 and granted. The case has been moved to 1:30 p.m. March 19. By that time, more than five months will have passed since the votes were cast.

The GOP initially challenged the vote handling in two races, but the portion of the case challenging the win by state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, has been dismissed. All that remains is the challenge against Democrat Todd Martin, now La Salle County state’s attorney. Martin received 27,206 votes to Republican incumbent Karen Donnelly’s 25,111 – a difference of 2,095 votes.