The LaSalle County Board voted Oct. 9 to raise pay for precinct election judges to $300 per day for consolidated primary and general elections, adopting an ordinance that amends county election pay rules.

The ordinance, put forward under authority the board cited from 10 ILCS 5 (Illinois Election Code), passed after lengthy discussion about recruitment, costs and comparability with other counties.

County Clerk (name not specified), who runs judge recruitment and training, told the board she had calculated a lower base that would pay judges roughly $15 an hour for a 15-hour day and had recommended $250 as a compromise, saying, “My judges have asked me for at least minimum wage.” She also outlined other non‑day compensations: $20 for class, $10 for a written test, $10 per person for supply pickup and mileage in some circumstances. The clerk said she already had secured about 240 prospective judges for the upcoming March election and described that as “way ahead of schedule.”

But members of the legislation committee and several board members said recruiting and retaining judges has been difficult and that the county should pay more to ensure polling places are staffed. Committee chair Mister Traeger (County Board member) said the committee “thought $20 an hour was a fair, very fair payment for that type of work,” and that converting that rate to a daily stipend produced the $300 figure the committee unanimously recommended.

Opponents on the board argued the higher rate would add tens of thousands to the county’s election costs. Mister Brown (County Board member) estimated “every $50 we go up, it’s roughly $25,000 per election,” and urged adopting the $250 figure the clerk proposed. Mister Reed (County Board member) and others likewise urged caution and asked for more data about other counties’ practices; the clerk provided past precinct judge counts (April 2023: 357; March 2024: 373; November 2024: 469; April 2025: 369) and noted LaSalle County has about 75,000 registered voters.

A procedural motion to end debate (call for the question) was seconded and approved. The subsequent roll-call vote on the ordinance was recorded as 60 ayes and 11 nays; the motion carried and the ordinance was adopted effective immediately.

The ordinance cites 10 ILCS 5-13-10 and sets county compensation at $300 per day while noting the State Board of Elections reimburses $65 per judge per day where applicable. The clerk said training and other compensations described in her packet would remain in place.

Board members asked the clerk to continue outreach to the major parties and to explore precinct consolidation options for longer-term savings. The clerk said she was willing to meet with board members to discuss precinct consolidation and other logistical questions.

The measure drew some dissent on principle of fiscal restraint but passed after the board’s vote.