LaSalle County committee reopens debate over election-judge pay and training incentives

LaSalle County officials discussed restructuring election-judge pay and boosting incentives for required training at a monthly meeting of the county’s Taxes, Elections, GIS, Assessors and Recorder Committee.

Committee members reviewed options that would change the current $300 flat payment for election judges to a lower base supplemented by larger payments for training, testing and supply judges. One proposal under discussion would set a $2.25 base, $50 for class attendance, $10 for testing and $15 for supply judges; other members proposed shifting more of the total dollars to training and testing to ensure full-class participation.

Supporters said stronger payments tied to training are important because the county recently purchased new voting equipment that requires hands-on instruction. “The training is what stands out most to me with the new system,” one board member said, urging incentives so judges stay for full class sessions rather than leaving early.

Opponents cautioned that the $300 rate has been in effect since October and lowering the base could be perceived as a pay cut. One member asked that the county evaluate actual costs from the March 2026 election before making a permanent change.

The committee did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Members agreed to return the matter to the full county board with options for consideration and to use the March election as a test case to project the budgetary impact for November.

Next steps: the county clerk will prepare the resolution(s) for board consideration and staff will present cost projections based on March election staffing and training attendance.