The Knox County electoral board has made its rulings in the objections to the nominating petitions for incumbent Republican Clerk Scott Erickson and Republican treasurer candidate Jerrie Ann Walters.
While the board found multiple signatures were written in the same handwriting, the board found no evidence of a “pattern of fraud,” as alleged by objector Pamela Davidson, and voted to keep both candidates on the March 2026 primary ballot.
‘Fraud is a big word’
The objection against Erickson pointed to two clusters of signatures that appeared to be in the same handwriting.
Following a previous binder check and testimony on Wednesday afternoon from Erickson, the board found that one person signed her own name and four others on one sheet of Erickson’s nominating petitions — and one person signed his own name and his wife’s name on another sheet.
Testimony revealed the signatures in question on Erickson’s were collected during a Republican petition-signing event at Lincoln Park on Oct. 7.
Under questioning from the objector’s attorney, James Greenwood, Erickson repeatedly said the names were signed in his presence but Erickson did not directly answer “yes” or “no” to whether he directly witnessed the signatures.
“I was present while the petitions were being signed,” Erickson said. “Signatures were all done in my presence. I was not looking over their shoulder.”
Erickson also testified that he had personal knowledge that all of the signers were present at the Lincoln Park event.
“Then why are all these signatures signed with the same handwriting, Mr. Erickson?” Greenwood asked.
Erickson responded: “I don’t know.”
Erickson’s attorney, James Skinner, argued that Erickson did not tell people that they could sign other people’s names to the petitions, nor did he ask them to. So, Skinner argued, it wasn’t Erickson’s fault his petitions had forged signatures.
The board agreed. Knox County State’s Attorney Ashley Worby said Erickson did not seek out the fraudulent signatures, and that in certifying them, Erickson was saying they were valid “to the best of his knowledge.”
“That’s not fraud,” Worby said.
Worby also noted there was nothing improper about the signing event.
The objection had asked for all of Erickson’s petitions to be thrown out due to the alleged pattern of fraud. The electoral board only threw out the forged signatures, leaving Erickson with enough valid ones to be on the ballot.
Erickson has been in office since 2004. Following the electoral board’s decision, Erickson told TSPR he was pleased with the board’s decision and looks forward to continuing to serve the public.
“Fraud is a big word. Fraud is a bad word. And once you say words like that, it's hard to take these things back. An allegation of fraud really irks me,” Erickson said. “I've been doing this for a lot of years. I would not risk my job for two or three signatures or one signature. It's not worth it to do that.”
Erickson said going forward, he would be more careful with his petitions and potentially conduct binder checks prior to filing.
Objector Davidson said she was expecting this outcome, and will not appeal it.
Davidson, who is a member of the the Knox County board and chair of the Knox County Democrats, said she believes nominating petitions are about more than getting on the ballot.
“It was put out for it to be fair and to engage with the people that might be a registered voter. That's how it is. That's how it should be. It's just not getting the numbers. It's engaging with the people that will be signing your petitions that might vote for you,” Davidson said.
‘Mistakes happen’
The objection against Jerrie Ann Walters also cited clusters of signatures written in the same handwriting. That included a total of 14 signatures on three petition sheet circulated by the candidate and a circulator.
Both the candidate and the circulator testified they knew the signers.
Objector Davidson also argued this constituted a pattern a fraud.
But the electoral board again failed to see that, though they did strike the bad signatures.
“Mistakes happen,” Worby said.
Though the bad signatures were thrown out, Walters has enough remaining to stay on the ballot.
In all, five objections were filed against Republican candidates for the March primary.
But only one kicked a candidate off the ballot — and that was one that Walters filed against fellow Republican treasurer candidate Janet Windish. She was removed for having an incomplete statement of candidacy.
By state statute, the county’s electoral board is composed of the county clerk, the state’s attorney, and the circuit clerk.
Erickson recused himself from hearing the objection to his nominating petitions, and for the hearing on the objection to Walters’ petitions.
Treasurer Robin Davis, the next in line, recused herself as well. So Sheriff Jack Harlan served as the alternate for Wednesday’s decisions.
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