A heavy caseload is preventing the DeKalb state’s attorney from deciding whether to file charges in the election-night soda-handout at Stevenson Towers North.

“It might be a while before I get to them (the police reports),” said State’s Attorney Mike Coghlan. There is a backlog of cases that need to be prosecuted before he begins this one, he said.

The investigation centers on reports that two women allegedly gave out soda to Democratic Party voters by the residence hall polling place.

Coghlan said he also is waiting for reports of election fraud from around the rest of DeKalb County. Coghlan would neither confirm or deny whether the incident at Stevenson North was the only one that occurred at NIU then.

Coghlan said the statute of limitations for this type of crime is 18 months.

Republican Jodie English said she is talking to the state board of elections today about the matter. She said she is involved in the matter because she was one of the first people to report the incident.

Although English lost the County Board election that day to Democrat Thomas Gary, she said she is not pursuing it for political gain. “I will not ask for a recount whatsoever,” she said.

“I seriously don’t believe my opponent had anything to do with it,” she added.