PEORIA/TAZEWELL/WOODFORD COUNTIES, Ill. – Turnout so far in early voting across central Illinois is a little lower than anticipated.
As of Tuesday morning, Peoria County reported 1390 people have voted early in-person, while around 4,000 vote-by-mail ballots have been returned.
In Woodford County, officials say turnout is “very slow,” with 120 early voters and 677 vote-by-mail ballots returned.
Tazewell County is reporting higher numbers, compared to their neighbors. As of Tuesday morning, Tazewell is reporting 1,893 in-person voters, and 3,526 vote-by-mail.
County Clerk John Ackerman says two cities are helping drive up those numbers.
“We are seeing a lot of attention in the Washington area for the, I believe the Washington mayor’s race is driving quite a bit of interest there. In Morton, it’s the Morton school board race that is driving quite a bit of interest. We’ve seen some high turnout numbers in those two areas,” Ackerman said.
Tazewell County held off-site voting at locations across the county the past two weekends, with Morton having 633 people vote at its site, and Washington with 544 early voters.
Ackerman says the numbers are not as high as one would see for a general election. But he says the consolidated elections have a higher impact on people’s daily lives.
“When you look at your property tax bill when those come, these are the individuals that are determining how those local tax dollars are being spent,” Ackerman says. “So if you’re not happy with your tax bill when you receive it, these are the individuals that directly have the impact on the majority, overwhelmingly majority, of that revenue.”
The consolidated elections feature races for mayors, city councils, school boards, and townships. Election day is April 1st.
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