Homer Township Reduces Polling Places from 17 to 5 for Upcoming Primary

Homer Township will have only five polling places for the Feb. 25 primary, a significant reduction from previous elections, raising concerns among residents.

Homer Township Reduces Polling Places from 17 to 5 for Upcoming Primary
Homer Township Reduces Polling Places from 17 to 5 for Upcoming Primary

Homer Township: So, here’s the scoop. For the upcoming primary on February 25, residents will only have five polling places to choose from. That’s a big drop from the 17 they had before.

If you want to vote early, you can head over to the Will County clerk’s office in Joliet starting Thursday. It’s a bit of a change from 2017 when there were 18 polling spots on Election Day and early voting was available at both the county clerk’s office and the township’s admin center.

Will County Clerk Annette Parker reached out to the township last month about setting up early voting, but they turned it down. Township Supervisor Steve Balich, who’s running for reelection, said they’d only consider using the admin center for early voting if the county footed the bill. He mentioned they just don’t have the budget or staff for it.

The primary will see folks voting for various positions, including township supervisor and clerk. The current team includes Balich, Clerk Vicki Bozen, and others, while they’re being challenged by a group called the Homer Township Reset slate.

On Election Day, you can vote at five different locations, including churches and the Lockport Township Building. Parker explained that these spots were chosen to cover all corners of the township and provide a central location.

The county’s new election equipment allows for fewer polling places, and it’s pretty cool because it can print ballots on demand, which saves money and reduces waste.

Steilen, a candidate from the Reset slate, is worried that fewer polling places might confuse voters. She hopes more familiar spots like the library or village hall could have been used. Plus, she’s concerned about seniors who prefer early voting, especially with the unpredictable winter weather.

Balich reassured everyone that the drive to Joliet isn’t too much longer than going to the township building. Voters can also choose to vote by mail or on Election Day.

To help out, the county will put up signs at the unused polling places to guide voters to the five active ones. They’ll also send out mailers to inform everyone about the changes.

In the last primary back in 2017, only about 5% of voters in Homer Township cast their ballots. Normal polling places will be back for the April 1 election.

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