District 30 finds election-meddling allegations inconclusive

Cristobal Stewart, second from left, at a Board of Education meeting in February.

Nick Ciccone/Herald

District 30 officials said on Thursday that it was unclear if voters were influenced by false information spread by a poll worker at the Forest Road Elementary School during Tuesday’s Board of Education election, but that it did not occur on a scale that influenced the outcome.

Trustee Cristobal Stewart, who was ousted by Matthew Khan by nearly 100 votes, said he learned at 6 p.m. on Tuesday that poll workers at the school told voters he had dropped out of the race.

District administrators said they questioned poll workers and several voters at the school as soon as they learned of the issue.

“Based on the district’s investigation, [it] cannot conclude definitively if voters were influenced by any of the election workers,” said District 30 Superintendent Nicholas Stirling in a statement.

“It is important to note that the votes — one or two — in question would not have changed the results of the election,” Stirling continued, adding that the district would review its election protocols carefully in the future.

Stewart, whose term ends next month, said he was happy with the investigation that the district performed, and that he thought it was important to “make sure that there are safeguards put in place.”

“I haven’t figured out in what new way I will be active,” he said, “but I will definitely stay involved and try to make an impact.”