Ward 5 resident urges O'Fallon council to back hand‑counted paper ballots, alleging machine vulnerabilities

Doug Gaines, a Ward 5 resident, urged the O'Fallon City Council during two public‑comment periods on Jan. 5 to adopt a resolution calling for hand‑counted paper ballots, saying county electronic tabulators have failed and that records were deleted in ways he described as evidence of “systemic fraud.”

Gaines told the council he had served as an election judge and cited what he described as discrepancies between official totals and cast vote records, saying the county ordered records preserved for litigation but that the records were later deleted. “If there was nothing to hide, why destroy them?” he asked. He named contractors and vendors and claimed sworn affidavits alleging software vulnerabilities; he said, “Hand counted paper ballots are unhackable, observable, and supported by Illinois election code.”

Gaines framed his request in constitutional and statutory language, referencing provisions of the Illinois Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois election code, and the Help America Vote Act, and urged the council to forward a resolution to the county board, the state board of elections and legislators. He also said he would provide additional evidence during the meeting’s second public‑comment period.

Council members and staff acknowledged Gaines’s remarks but did not place a resolution on the agenda or move to refer the matter to staff or a committee during the meeting. The mayor closed public comment and proceeded with other agenda items. No formal action related to elections or voting equipment was taken at the Jan. 5 meeting.

What happened next: Gaines resumed his remarks later in the meeting, reiterated his accusations about machine vulnerabilities and again urged the council to champion a resolution advocating hand‑counted ballots. City officials thanked him for his comments but did not announce any follow‑up steps at that time.