Town of Liberty Board Meeting
Liberty Town Hall
May 7, 2025
4:00 PM
Recount/Board of Canvassers Minutes
Board of Canvasser members present: Bert Miller, Kay Starr, Cathy Lindskins;
Others Election workers present: Town Clerk Sharon Engh, Sheree Andersen, Logan Gjefle.
Public members: County Clerk Jerry Pedretti, Lori Polhamus, George Wilbur, Wade Lawler, Orlin Engh, Joel Johnson, Tim Hundt, Paul Lindskins
Candidates present: Carrie Vanek and Jason Vidas
- The meeting was called to order at 4:00 pm. The Board of Canvass has reconvened by order of the Vernon County Circuit Court to: a) correct an error from the first recount of this election; b) review an additional absentee ballot envelope that may need to be rejected; and c) investigate an allegation of two voters voting without showing proper identification.
- It was determined that Bert Miller would chair the Board of Canvass, with Cathy and Kay as the officials. These three shall be the Board of Canvass.
- The Board of Canvass ordered one vote be removed from the Town Chair candidate Engh as penalty for witnessing an absentee ballot envelope.
- The procedure was explained, and it was determined that an absentee ballot envelope was witnessed by Carrie Vanek. The Board of Canvass has now ordered the deduction of one vote from Carrie Vanek’s total. Presumed absentee ballots were then separated from the others. The twelve ballots were placed in a tub and Bert pulled one ballot. This ballot contained a vote for Jason Vidas. The race now stands at Vidas 81 and Vanek 80.
- Next the allegation of the improper identification being used by two voters. It was determined by the Board of Canvass that this in fact did happen. The next decision that needed to be made was whether the Illinois voters were eligible voters. It was discussed at length and determined by the canvass board that yes indeed they were eligible. They had the proper registration information, not proper identification. They should have voted with provisional ballots so they could have presented proper identification. This did not happen.
- Bert then proposed that we penalize the voters by counting down 2 votes. There was much discussion from everyone in the room. The Board of Canvass decided by a 2-1 vote to not draw down two ballots. This makes Jason Vidas the winner at 81 to 80.
- Sharon Engh, town of Liberty clerk will notify the Court and WEC as to the results.
- The Board of Canvass adjourned at 4:59pm.
Respectfully submitted,Sharon Engh
