PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria voters will be going to the polls on Tuesday, but not many of them are casting their ballots.
Tuesday’s primary elections in the city will decide the two finalists in races for mayor, treasurer, and District 2 councilman.
Each race has three candidates, with the top two vote-getters to face off in the April 1st consolidated election.
For mayor, incumbent Rita Ali is facing challenges from councilmen Chuck Grayeb and John Kelly. Brooke Sommerville, Asya Washum, and Jim Montelongo are vying for city treasurer. And Alex Carmona, Krista Wresinski, and Estrella Diaz are running for city council District 2.
Republicans in the city will have an additional vote, for either Terry Grawey or Andrew Couri to become uncontested in April for Peoria Township Assessor.
Peoria County Election Commission Executive Director Elizabeth Gannon says close to 7500 ballots have been cast so far, which she says is low.
“They’re just not covered in the news at that national level, like you see in gubernatorial and presidential year elections,” Gannon said. “Also, I really don’t think people understand the impacts these small elections have on their everyday lives.”
Consolidated elections focus on mayors, village presidents, council and aldermen, and school boards.
Gannon says around 1400 people have voted in-person, as of Monday, as the election office. She says 13,000 vote-by-mail ballots have been issued, with 6,000 of those returned so far.
Gannon says voting will take place Tuesday in 30 different locations across Peoria. She says any eligible voter can cast their ballot at any location, not just the precinct they live in.
Gannon is hoping for a turnout of around 15% for the primary, and around 30% for the consolidated election.
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