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LaSalle County clerk prepares for April election, raises minimum judge pay to secure full state reimbursement
Summary
County clerk outlined preparations for the April 2025 election including vote-by-mail production, tabulator testing, judge training and a passed ordinance raising minimum election judge pay to $1.85 so the county can receive the state's $65-per-judge reimbursement.
The county clerk reported the office is preparing to mail about 6,900 vote-by-mail ballots beginning the first permissible day and said roughly 2,500 of those ballots had already been completed. The clerk said early voting will open the same day and that tabulator testing was scheduled to ensure two touchscreens and two tabulators (with two backups available) are ready for the basement early-voting room.
The clerk said classes for election judges begin next week and described a two-tier training plan: a two-hour refresher for judges who indicate they are comfortable with procedures and a four-hour, more detailed session that includes a mock election, closing procedures and paperwork. "If they're struggling, they're more than welcome to come back to another class," the clerk said.
The clerk also told the committee she submitted a request for proposals (RFP) for a new voter registration system to staff (Pat) and to Chairman Jensen for review; she plans a separate RFP for poll books this summer. She said only a handful of vendors are authorized by the State Board of Elections to supply the voter-registration system and that the registration system is eligible for state reimbursement through the IVRS grant.
On compensation for judges, the committee approved an ordinance changing the county pay schedule so the minimum base rate for an election judge will be $1.85 per hour, with additional pay for training and testing. The clerk said the change was intended to make the county eligible for the state's maximum $65 per-judge reimbursement for elections. The ordinance passed after a motion by Nancy and a second by Jill.
The clerk told the committee she plans to revisit potential further pay increases in the 2026 budget process and that increases for April 2025 were intended to align the county with state reimbursement rules. She also said she will pursue replacing aging poll-book hardware by issuing an RFP this summer; the vendor currently used told the office rentals were not available.
The clerk said an ethics-software purchase is planned for this year and estimated the cost at roughly $25,000 to $30,000; she said she will check whether automation or other county funds can legally cover the purchase and will bring the item to finance if necessary.
The clerk concluded by noting the office is swamped with election work and that staff have been working weekends to meet mail and testing deadlines.
