PEORIA, Ill. – Employees of the city of Peoria can now take a day off work to be an election judge.
The city council on Tuesday night approved a policy change that would give those employees more flexibility to help out on Election Day. Employees can now be paid a full eight-hour day wage from the city to volunteer as a judge, not have it count as hours worked. The employee would also keep the full day’s pay as an election judge, which is $250 in Peoria County.
The policy change applies to all elections moving forward.
City Manager Patrick Urich says the Peoria County Election Commission approached the city about the plan, noting that fewer than expected people were signing up to be an election judge for November’s elections. He estimates that only 2-5 employees would take advantage of the new policy, at this time.
Election Commission Executive Director Jessily Joseph spoke to the council to answer questions about the proposal, and what the training and day of work would look like. She explained why they were struggling to get judges.
“One of the largest barriers that we hear about is being able to get time off work, but also being able to afford it,” Joseph said.
Joseph says the county needs about six election judges at its more than 50 polling locations to make sure everything goes smoothly on Election Day.
Most of the city council approved the measure. At-Large Councilman Mike Vespa, who is on the ballot this November for judge in 10th Judicial Circuit of Peoria County, called it a civic duty and a community service, with the policy addressing a serious need in the community.
The only two “no” votes came from 2nd District Councilman Alex Carmona, and At-Large Councilman John Kelly.
Kelly says there is a need for election judges and wants the city to encourage people to volunteer as one. But his main concern was that the policy could open the door to other “good causes” that employees could take a day off for.
“Why not? It’s a good cause. The why not is because we need to get the work done at City Hall,” Kelly said.
Election Day this year is November 3rd. Early voting starts on Thursday, September 24th.
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