McLean County to implement new vote-by-mail tracking system

Voters will continue to receive their ballot and fill it out. Each ballot will have a tear-off receipt attached at the bottom with a QR code and tracking information. (Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)

By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – For voters in McLean County who decide to vote-by-mail, you’ll now be able to track your ballot all the way to the election office.

The new vote by mail tracking system is through a St. Louis-based company called “KNOWiNK.”

The company will print and distribute vote-by-mail ballots for all future McLean County elections, starting with the upcoming November U.S. presidential election.

This process allows voters to use a tracking system to monitor their ballot through the post office.

Voters will continue to receive their ballot and fill it out. Each ballot will have a tear-off receipt attached at the bottom with a QR code and tracking information.

With this partnership, McLean County will qualify for a not-for-profit postage that will reduce the price of a stamp.

Two weeks ago, Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman announced their partnership with KNOWiNK. He says this new system gives citizens the power to make sure their vote is counted.

“Citizens will be empowered with the ability to go on, pull up and see where their ballot is. At the front end, KNOWiNK, when they mail these ballots out, will be tracking to make sure that the ballots move through the postal service and are delivered to the citizens,” Ackerman. “On the other side, then the citizens now have the power with that QR code and website to bring up and make sure that their ballot when they mail it is actually delivered to the office.”

Monroe, Cook, Tazewell and McLean County are the only counties in the state that have partnered with KNOWiNK.

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