Bloomington Election Commission makes call for election judges

Polling center
Election judges are needed at a few polling centers in Bloomington. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Election Commission is short on judges at three polling centers for the upcoming election.

Election judges are needed at Northside Church of Christ, First Church of Nazarene and St. Patrick Church of Merna.

Election Commission assistant director Cathy Haab says there’s often a need for new election judges during every four-year cycle.

“As they go on four years down the road they’re lives change, their schedules change,” said Haab. “We have people that move away or gain new family resopnsibilities.”

Haab added if there aren’t enough judges, the voting process could get slowed.

“Some of our bigger polls have three precintcs,” said Haab. “So we really need 15 people and for them to only have six or seven people in a busy eleciton, it makes it hard for our election judges.”

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said her office has 35 to 40 spots open for election judges this spring, but 70 new judges started getting training this week.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Adam Studzinski can be reached [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…