BEC changing one polling place due to coronavirus concerns

Posted on March 11, 2020

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Election Commission is moving one of its polling locations due to the coronavirus.

The Westminster Village poll will be moved for next week’s primary election to the DoubleTree Hotel located at 10 Brickyard Drive, according to a news release.

The BEC said its moving the polling location as a precautionary measure to address the concerns of Westminster Village. The BEC is working on accommodations to allow Westminster residents the chance to vote.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said two polling locations in Normal have requested to not be used as a polling place. They include the McLean County Nursing Home and Evegreen Place Assisted Living. A decision on replacement polling locations will be made at an emergency county board meeting Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The primary election is March 17.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…