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County Clerk warns of election equipment upgrades, maintenance and a $400,000 staffing shortfall
Summary
Will County's election office said Windows 11 and vendor changes require replacement of vote‑by‑mail hardware (~$250,000), a maintenance agreement for 1,100 election devices (~$182,000/year), and that the county will be about $400,000 short this year on election‑judge pay; it is pursuing grants and contingency plans.
The County Clerk’s Office told the board it faces multiple near‑term election costs. Office representatives said Windows 11 compatibility will force replacement of some proprietary vote‑by‑mail hardware and servers (estimated at about $250,000) and that the 1,100 election‑day devices purchased three years ago require a maintenance agreement the vendor estimates at roughly $182,000 per year for cleaning, battery checks and testing ahead of the 2027 election.
The clerk’s office also described exploring bringing ballot creation in‑house — an estimated software and equipment cost of approximately $83,000 — to reduce risks tied to vendor workflows and to speed last‑minute changes. Officials said they are seeking grant funding to offset capital expenses.
Separately, the clerk reported a near‑term operational shortfall of about $400,000 for election‑judge pay in the upcoming general election; the figure was based on scheduling seven judges per precinct (to assure at least mandated minimum staffing). The office said the county’s appropriation fell short of its request and that state reimbursement does not cover the full $220/day figure the county uses when calculating total cost. The board asked for more detail on turnout and how election‑day staffing needs might change given expanded early voting and permanent vote‑by‑mail usage.
No vote occurred on the funding requests at the meeting; clerk staff said they will continue to seek grants and return with more detailed budget numbers.
