Will County raises election judge pay

Clerk’s office says slots fully staffed as of now

The Will County Clerk will pay election judges an additional $100, for a total of $250, for working on Election Day. The hourly pay for election judges who work at early voting locations and for election field techs will increase from $13 to $20 an hour.

The one-time increases for the November election are covered through federal CARES Act funding. The anticipated cost of the increase is $250,000, said Charles Pelkie, chief of staff to Will County Clerk Lauren StaleyFerry. The decision comes weeks after the clerk’s office said it had no plans to increase pay.

“We want to make certain that we’re able to acknowledge the fact that these election judges have additional health and safety concerns in regards to serving,” Pelkie said. “It’s an opportunity to show some appreciation for the work that they do and recognize their concerns … and to encourage them to remain steadfast and continue to serve on Election Day.”

Earlier this month, DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek announced she would be using CARES Act funding to double the pay of election judges from $130 to $260.

Though the March primary saw many election judges stay home due to the pandemic, Pelkie said the Will County Clerk’s Office has all election judge slots filled. The county typically needs about 1,750 election judges to adequately staff Election Day, he said.

“We are fully staffed, on paper, as of now,” Pelkie said. “We’re hoping that we’re able to retain that aswe go into the election.”

Richard Belanski Sr. and his wife, Barbara, have been election judges for 12 years. While Belanski appreciates the pay increase, he says money has never been an issue.

“We would love more, of course,” Belanski said. “But truthfully, most of us are doing it for civic duty.”

Despite the pay increase, Belanski said he’s not certain if he

and his wife will serve this year, citing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to social distance in the Mokena Village Hall polling place they help staff.

He cited the small space and there being only one entrance/exit into the room.

“I just don’t know how we’re going to do social distancing,” he said.

Pelkie said his office is working with election judges to make sure polling places are equipped with hand sanitizing stations and that judges have gloves, face shields and sanitizing wipes. He said the county clerk’s office plans a campaign to encourage voters to bring their own pens.

He said voting locations have been finalized and the office hopes to keep polling location changes to a minimum.

“We are asking judges to take a look at the aspects of their polling place and to adapt as best as they can for social distancing,” he said.

Voters may be asked to step outside the room and line up in the hallway or even outdoors, he said.

The county clerk’s office also has developed a safety plan to guide election judges dealing with a voter who declines to wear a face mask. Pelkie said that while face masks are required, the state has provided guidance that voters cannot be denied a ballot if they refuse to wear one.

Early voting begins on Sept. 24 at the clerk’s office, at 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet. Satellite locations for early voting open on Oct. 19. For a list of satellite locations and hours, go to www.thewill countyclerk. com and click on the early voting tab.