CHICAGO: The bid by a prominent woman community activist Vandana Jhingan to go into the US Congress on Republican Party ticket from 8th District Illinois has met with huge bumps and is now clouded in uncertainty.
This follows a ruling by Cook County Circuit Court judge James Carroll upholding the State Elections Board’s decision to strike Jhingan from the March 20, 2018 primary ballot. Carroll observed that there was sufficient evidence for signature collection fraud to justify keeping Jhingan’s name off the ballot, according to records obtained from the Illinois State Board of Elections.The 8th District includes Elgin and parts of South Elgin, Streamwood and Schaumburg
Jhingan and campaign volunteers collected 1,746 signatures on petitions submitted to get her on the Republican ballot. This was challenged at the State Election Board level in December, raising questions if signatures were valid. Also there was the question if the signatures were collected by the people who signed the petition sheets and how the sheets were notarized, according to the complaint.
State Board of Elections hearing Officer Scott Erdman found that only 481 of the signatures were valid, 69 less than the minimum needed for Jhingan’s name to be on the ballot. The state board voted not to certify Jhingan as a candidate. This led to filing of an appeal with the Cook County Circuit court. The court decided to go with the findings of the Election Board
Jon Zahm, a consultant for Jhingan’s campaign, called Judge James Carroll’s ruling a “wrongful decision” and one they might appeal to the 1st District Appellate Court.
If Jhingan decides not to appeal Carroll’s ruling, Jitendra “JD” Diganvker will not face an opponent in the Republican primary. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, seeking his second two-year term, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. All three live in Schaumburg.
Suresh Shah
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