SPRINGFIELD — Here’s a new twist to Illinois’ ongoing budget woes: The same politicians who are running around looking for your vote failed to actually pony up enough money to fully pay for the election.
According to state and local election regulators, the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 shorted the fund that pays for local election judges by about $2.5 million.
While the shortfall is not expected to interfere with the Nov. 6 balloting, it could mean the state’s 102 counties will have to cover the difference if the state doesn’t come through with additional cash.
The situation has left some shaking their heads.
“We see these things often with the state,” said Logan County Clerk Sally Litterly, president of the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders.
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Thousands of election judges are hired each election to open and close the polls and to ensure the smooth operation of an election. Their duties include checking in qualified voters and making sure all votes are cast in secret.
Their pay for the day varies by county. In Logan County, for example, Litterly said judges receive $75, with $45 of that coming from the state. In other counties, pay varies from $100 to $170.
Rupert Borgsmiller, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections, said the General Assembly and Gov. Pat Quinn signed off on a spending plan that allocates $1.3 million to pay the state’s share of election judges.
He says that won’t even pay the full freight for the upcoming election and is clearly less than is needed for elections scheduled in February and April.
“We do not have enough money to fully fund one election, much less three,” Borgsmiller said Monday.
Election officials plan to ask for the rest of the money when the House and Senate reconvene for the fall veto session in late November.
If the added cash is not found, Borgsmiller said state regulators will distribute the existing money on a pro-rated basis and leave it up to each county to cover the difference.
State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, said Monday he was unaware of the situation.
“It’s one more item to add to our list of shortfalls,” Brady said. “It is concerning that the counties might be left to pay the bill.”
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