EDWARDSVILLE — In accordance with Senate Bill 1523, Madison County Recorder, Linda Andreas, officially established a new Fraud Referral and Review Process aimed at enhancing the integrity and transparency of county recorder operations. This process will facilitate the review and referral of suspected fraud related to documents or election-related filings processed by the Recorder’s Office.
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SB 1523, which became effective January 1st, 2026, mandates county recorders to implement a formal mechanism to identify, review, and when appropriate, refer suspected cases of fraud to the relevant law enforcement or investigative agencies.
“As County Recorder, I am committed to safeguarding the public trust and ensuring that all documents and elections-related records filed with this office are accurate, legal, and secure,” said Linda Andreas, “This new process allows us to act decisively when there are legitimate concerns about fraudulent activity, while also ensuring that referrals are based on objective review standards.”
Key Features of the Fraud Referral and Review Process include:
- Initial Identification: Recorder’s Office staff will flag irregular or suspicious filings during the standard review process.
- Preliminary Review: A designated internal review team will assess the flagged case to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to suspect fraud.
- Formal Referral: If warranted, the case will be formally referred to the appropriate law enforcement or oversight agency, such as the State Attorney General.
- Documentation and Tracking: All referred cases will be documented and tracked for transparency and accountability.
The process is designed to comply fully with SB 1523 while also protecting individual rights and ensuring due process. Staff have received additional training on fraud detection and the proper procedures for handling questionable documents or filings.
Members of the public who have credible concerns or evidence of fraudulent activity involving the Recorder’s Office may also submit a report by emailing Linda Andreas.
Madison County property owners are encouraged to sign up for property fraud alerts at https://www.propertyfraudalert.com/ILMadison or by calling the Recorder’s office.
For more information, please visit www.hancockcounty-il.gov or contact The Madison County Recorder’s office at: recorder@madisoncountyil.gov or 618.296.4475
