“With 19,520 registered voters as of January 13, 2012, and only 19,000 persons over the age of 18 [in East St. Louis], according to the United States Census Bureau’s 2010 report, it seems that we have now a major case of over-registration,” Matt Hawkins of the East St. Louis Alliance for Change lamented six years ago.

He insists that his decision was not politically motivated and that he had the law on his side.