December 21, 2011
Moline, IL...State Representative Rich Morthland released the following statement regarding the recent closure of a dozen polling centers in Rock Island County:
"Voting patterns change with the weather and the County Clerk means to tell us that these closures will not affect voter turnout? This is just another means of gerrymandering.
"It is a little too coincidental that Rural Township is also a significant Republican voting area and the County Clerk, though supposed to be a neutral election authority, is a Democrat. The locations of polling places, however, should not be a partisan consideration.
"If necessary, I stand poised to take legislative action on this matter. I stand with the 739 registered voters of Rural Township and support keeping their polling center open."
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