Early voting in Illinois officially started Thursday morning, kicking off a 40‑day period that allows voters to cast ballots before Election Day. While the extended window offers convenience, county officials explain that it also brings additional costs that taxpayers must cover.
County clerks detail the expense
Rock Island County Clerk Karen Kinney told The Center Square that early voting requires “additional employees throughout the election season” because the county must bring in election judges and set up multiple voting sites. “One is in Silvis City Council chambers, and one is in the Milan Municipal Building, and also the Moline Public Library,” Kinney added, noting that a crew loads trucks with election equipment for each location.
Brown County Clerk & Recorder Jenny Welty echoed the sentiment, describing the start of early voting as a “crunch” for her office. She said her department budgets a separate line item each year for elections, making the process “taxpayer‑funded” by design.
Cost‑saving measures in place
Welty highlighted the use of “express votes,” blank ballots with bar codes that pull the correct ballot at the appropriate time. This technology, she said, has reduced paper‑ballot waste and lowered printing costs. Additionally, her office provides a drop box for voters who prefer not to use the postal service for mail‑in ballots.
Staff overtime and workload
Kinney disclosed that her staff of eleven worked overtime after waiting for the Supreme Court to decide on mail‑in ballot rules. “They come in at eight o’clock in the morning, and they go home about 8:30 at night, sometimes nine o’clock, and they’re tired. They also work on the weekends,” she said.
State guidance on early voting
Earlier this year, Illinois State Board of Elections Public Information Officer Matt Dietrich reminded voters that once a ballot is cast at an early‑voting site, it cannot be retrieved or re‑voted. “Once you cast that ballot at early voting, it’s just like voting at a polling place on Election Day. You put that ballot into the tabulator and it is gone and there is no retrieving it,” Dietrich explained.
Where to vote early
Early‑voting locations are listed online by the state, giving residents multiple options to vote before Election Day. The added staffing and equipment costs are reflected in each county’s election budget, ensuring that the process remains fully funded by taxpayers.
As Illinois moves through the early‑voting period, officials say they will continue to monitor costs and staffing needs, aiming to provide a smooth and accessible voting experience while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
