PEORIA, Ill. – Monday brought the end to early voting in the March primary elections.
The early voting polls will close at 7:00 P.M. Monday before voters head to the polls to cast their ballots on Tuesday.
Turnout numbers across central Illinois have been mixed. In Peoria County, around 3500 people cast early ballots through in-person locations or vote-by-mail. In Tazewell County, it was estimated that more than 4300 voted early. Woodford County does not provide numbers until after polls close on Tuesday.
Peoria County Election Commission Assistant Executive Director Jessily Joseph their numbers are about what they expected.
“Typically, those folks that do early vote continuously early vote every election, I would say this is in line with what I expect,” Joseph said.
Joseph is hopeful for a 20% turnout in Peoria County for the primary elections. Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman is estimating a 30% turnout, which is lower than what election officials were hoping for.
As for Election Day on Tuesday, Ackerman says they will be debuting electronic voter rolls for the first time. He says voters will no longer need to sign paper forms or affidavits when they arrive at their polling place.
“Instead, that is all wrapped into one electronic poll pad that also is more accurate on the voting status of individuals, whether or not they’ve voted at one location or the other,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman says it may take a little bit longer to vote in the morning on Tuesday, as election judges get used to the new system.
Election Day is also St. Patrick’s Day, and both Joseph and Ackerman urge people to vote before they partake in celebrations, saying that one cannot be inebriated when they arrive at a polling place.
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