County Clerk Kristy Masching: We're open for business!

It has begun! The voting season is underway as Thursday marked the first day early voters were legally allowed to cast their vote in the Illinois Primary Election, which is officially slated for June 28.

The early voting has now placed into focus who and what are on the ballot and what will voters say regarding them.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon, Livingston County Clerk Kristy Masching said that there had 13 voters fill out ballots at her office. The county clerk's office is in the Historic Courthouse on the first floor. The election door is just inside the entrance on the east side of the building.

“We usually have some early birds,” Masching said. “They know what they want to do, they want to get it done and they come in the first day and are done.”

The early voting process is rather simple. According to Masching, early voting began Thursday and will continue through June 27. The days and hours of early voting are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. To 4:30 p.m. (the regular office hours of the clerk's office). Early voting is allowed on the three Saturdays, as well. The hours for voting on June 11, 18, 25 are 9 a.m.-noon.

Also, there are extended hours for voting on Wednesday, June 22, as the office will close at 6 p.m.

Take note, there are two Monday holidays when the clerk's office will be closed, so early voting will not be allowed on those days. Those days are May 30 (Memorial Day) and June 20 (Juneteenth Independence Day).

Early voters must be registered voters. Registration for voting closes Tuesday, May 31.

However, there is a grace registration and voting period. Beginning June 1 and continuing through June 28, new registrants and those who have transferred or moved and did not update their voter registration before May 31 are eligible, according to information provided by Masching.

There are other options to early voting, as well. Mail-in ballot are allowed and Masching said that these were sent out on Thursday (May 19). The first date to apply for a mail-in ballot was March 30.

Masching said she is asking that the mail-in ballots be in her office by June 23 because of concern over delays in the mailing process. There have been 48 applications thus far, plus three more for military personnel.

“If they do the vote-by-mail, we can accept them at any time that two-week period ofter the election as long as they've been postmarked as of election day,” Masching said. “The statute says midnight, but you need to check with your post office. There's a lot of post offices that close early, so if you think you have until midnight, you're going to have to find a post office.”

The United States Post Office at Pontiac will be open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on election day.

Masching also said that mail0in ballots can be dropped off at the clerk's office, “but there's a certification envelope and if someone else drops it off, both have to sign off on it.”

When looking at who or what to vote for, Masching pointed out that a declaration must be made.

“It's a primary, so you will have to declare whether you want a Republican or a Democrat ballot. On the county side, all the races are on the Republican side,” she said.

“If someone wants to come in and doesn't want to declare that they want a Republican or a Democrat ballot and just want to vote on the question, they can request a non-partisan ballot.”

This means they can vote on the question only and nothing else.

As for those questions, there are four in the county, although not everyone will be allowed to vote on them. The main issue on the ballot for Pontiac residents is the 1 percent sales tax. There is also questions regarding the Rural Pontiac Fire District, the Dana Fire Protection District and the Chatsworth Library.

Another aspect about the election is the number of judges who will be monitoring election sites. Masching said there is a need for more judges. She said that there are currently enough for three judges at each polling location but the desire is to have four for each location in case of illness or emergencies.

The shortages are primarily in the townships of Belle Prairie, Broughton, Chatsworth, Dwight, Eppards Point, Fayette, Forrest, Germanville, Esmen, Nebraska, Nevada, Newtown, Owego, Rooks Creek, Sunbury, Reading and Union.

Masching said that her office will be conducting new judge classes the first full week of June.

Qualifications include must be a citizen of the United States, must be a registered voter, be of good repute and character, be able to speak, read and write the English language, not be a candidate for any office in the election and not be an elected committeeman, and declare your part of preference.

If interested, Masching suggests calling her office at 815-844-2006 and ask for Gail Smythe or Masching.