Peoria County Election Commission Observer Report

​The Peoria County Election Commission met on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, with all commissioners present.  They had a first discussion of the 2022 budget.  It will have to be voted on during the August meeting before being submitted to the County Board.  Executive Director Tom Bride expects some increases due to more Vote by Mail.  There should be more money for election judges, including overtime, and more dropboxes.  Some equipment is left over from 2020.  Director Bride expects a 35-40% voter turnout in November of 2022 because of the new Vote by Mail law.  He is concerned about a 100% increase in insurance because he not yet sure why this should be.  The office has five full time and one part time employee.
The Request for Proposal for a new voting system will not affect the budget.  That money comes from capital funds.  Director Bride needs to sit down with IT from the County, then the attorney, and then the finance office before the RFP can be sent out.
Once redistricting is completed, the office will need to send out registration cards.  It is anticipated that federal money will be available to pay for safer dropboxes and other security.  Bride will check with both political parties before deciding on locations for the boxes—preferably in public locations such as libraries.
Chairman Matt Bartolo took a moment to publicly thank the League of Women Voters for helping to convince the County Board to pass the budget amendment allowing the Commission to spend the $19,000 left from the Tech and Civic Life Grant.
 Irene Pritzker, Observer