The Constitution, Election Integrity, and the Failure of Both Parties

FREEPORT, IL – September 09, 2025

For years, MAGA politicians like State Senator Andrew Chesney have pushed the baseless claim that undocumented immigrants are voting in U.S. elections. It’s a distraction designed to stoke fear, not safeguard democracy. The truth is far simpler: the Constitution already protects the integrity of the vote, and the real threats come from insiders—clerks, party elites, and officials who ignore the law.

What the Constitution Actually Says

The Constitution is one of the most remarkable documents in history because it lays out both the rights of citizens and the limits of government. When it comes to voting, it does not leave room for ambiguity:

  • 15th Amendment (1870) – No denial of voting rights based on race.

  • 19th Amendment (1920) – No denial based on sex.

  • 24th Amendment (1964) – No poll taxes or financial barriers in federal elections.

  • 26th Amendment (1971) – Voting rights guaranteed at age 18.

Federal law then makes it absolutely clear: only citizens can vote in federal elections. Title 18, Section 611 of the U.S. Code criminalizes any non-citizen voting, with penalties of prison and fines.

So when politicians like Andrew Chesney run to the cameras, peddling falsehoods about “illegal immigrants voting,” they are insulting your intelligence and ignoring the law. They are manipulating voters in order to hold on to power or their seat, not protecting democracy.

Real Election Crimes Come From Insiders

The cases that make headlines aren’t immigrants—they’re insiders:

  • Tina Peters (CO) – Convicted of felonies for tampering with voting equipment.

  • Kimberly Zapata (WI) – Convicted for using fake names to request military absentee ballots.

  • Charlie White (IN) – Indiana Secretary of State, convicted of multiple felonies, including voter fraud.

  • McCrae Dowless (NC) – GOP operative convicted of ballot fraud.

  • Leonis Malburg (CA) – Mayor convicted of conspiracy, perjury, and voter fraud.

These aren’t outsiders storming the polls. These are clerks, officials, and party operatives betraying the system from within.

Stephenson County: A Local Example

Here in Stephenson County, we’ve seen the same failures. After the April 2025 municipal election, County Clerk Jazmin Wingert admitted on a phone call that she had been counting mail-in ballots as they arrived, prior to Election Day, to “ensure the candidates and the parties had real numbers leading up to the April 1st election.”

Illinois Election Code (10 ILCS 5/19-8) is clear: while mail-in ballots may be processed as they arrive, they may not be counted until after polls close at 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, and only under the supervision of election judges and in the presence of poll watchers. Wingert’s admission directly contradicts that standard.

When FOIA requests sought documentation of when ballots were counted and who was present, Wingert refused to comply, claiming she had “followed the law.” When reported, the Illinois State Election Board and Illinois Attorney General pointed the issue to State’s Attorney Carl Larson, who simply refused to respond or even acknowledge. Voters were left with no accountability and no answers.

This is exactly how public trust is undermined—not by outsiders, but by insiders dismissing transparency and oversight.

Both Parties Are Failing Us

Here’s the bitter truth: both sides of the aisle are failing when it comes to election integrity.

  • Local Democrats spend time pestering voters outside polling places but fail to do the most important thing—assign actual poll watchers and maintain a presence during ballot counting. Without oversight, they abandon their responsibility to protect the process.

  • Republican “patriots” scream and shout about election integrity, waving flags and posting online about stolen elections. Yet when real violations happen inside county offices, they look the other way. They ignore the insiders breaking our election laws, because facing the truth would expose corruption in their own ranks.

Both parties talk about protecting elections. Neither does the hard work required to ensure transparency and accountability.

A Call to Action for Freeport and Stephenson County

If we truly value election integrity, here’s what must be done:

  • Party leadership must show up—not just at rallies, but in election rooms, at ballot counting tables, and in certification processes.

  • Poll watchers must be assigned and present at every stage, as Illinois law guarantees.

  • Discrepancies must be challenged immediately—not swept under the rug to protect insiders.

  • Secretive counting practices must end—including ballots counted in the basement of the local MAGA headquarters.

No campaign postcard, yard sign, or volunteer effort matters if the vote itself is compromised.

2026: Time for Courage and Real Leadership

In 2026, voters will have crucial choices:

  • In Senate District 45, you can stand up against Andrew Chesney’s race-baiting MAGA rhetoric by voting for Joshua T. Atkinson—a common-sense Lincoln-style Republican committed to working at the table, not chasing cameras.

  • In Stephenson County, you can do what Carl Larson lacked the courage to do and hold Jazmin Wingert accountable—by voting for her challenger, Sue Cook for County Clerk, who is committed to transparency and accountability.

  • Freeport and Stephenson County Democrats will also have opportunities: by supporting Patrick Cortesi for the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee, with the hope that he will push the local party to finally become active participants in elections rather than bystanders.

  • And on the congressional level, Montez Soliz (D) is showing the courage and backbone that our current Congressman Eric Sorensen lacks, by choosing to primary him in March. Even in a heavily gerrymandered district, Soliz is proving willing to challenge the establishment before taking on what may be a strong Republican candidate (Dillan Vancil vs Julie Bickelhaupt) in November.

Freeport Deserves Better

The Constitution already protects our right to vote. The problem isn’t immigrants or outsiders—it’s insiders who ignore the law and party leaders who refuse to enforce it.

Stephenson County and Northwestern Illinois deserve leaders who value truth over rhetoric, transparency over secrecy, and accountability over cowardice. It’s time for voters—not politicians—to take back the integrity of our elections.