The Illinois State Board of Elections split evenly along party lines Tuesday on state Senate President Don Harmon’s appeal of a recommendation that he violated state campaign finance laws, making it unlikely that it has the legal authority to impose a nearly $10 million fine against him for accepting campaign contributions in excess of state campaign finance limits.

The tie vote of the eight-member board — comprising four Democrats and four Republicans — left the issue of a $9.8 million fine levied against Harmon in limbo as his attorney, veteran Democratic Party attorney Michael Kasper, said state election law requires a majority of five votes to issue a final order. Such an order was required to make a finding that Harmon violated the law and to impose a fine, he said.

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