Questions surface about validity of Cairo ballots

CAIRO, Ill. -- The mother of Judson Childs, candidate for mayor of Cairo, mailed absentee ballots from Decatur, Ill., for the February primary and next Tuesday's election.

Charles Koen Jr. and his wife, India Purchase, cast early votes despite living in Houston, Texas. Charles Koen Jr. is the son of Charles Koen, a convicted felon pushed off the ballot before the primary but running as a write-in candidate for a city council seat. India Purchase is the daughter of Elbert "Bo" Purchase, the council's senior member.

Those are examples of questionable ballots cast so far in the Cairo election, said poll watchers tracking who is voting in this southern Illinois river town.

But the legal counsel for the State Board of Elections, Steve Sturm, said the votes could be legal, as long as those casting them consider Cairo their hometown and haven't registered to vote anywhere else. "You have to have a residence in the place you are voting," Sturm said. "That doesn't mean you have to spend 80 percent of your time there."

And Childs, Koen and Purchase, in separate interviews Wednesday, said each of their relatives are legitimate voters who view Cairo as their permanent residence.

"My daughter has always lived at my address," Purchase said. "She spends most of her time in Texas, but this is her home."

Tuesday's election will select a new mayor and six council members to serve four year terms. Voters across Illinois will be choosing municipal officials and school board members.

The effort to combat questionable voting practices in Cairo includes the compilation of detailed lists of people who have moved, registered at addresses that are uninhabitable or have other issues with their voter registration.

For more details, log back on to www.semissourian.com or read Thursday's Southeast Missourian.