Southern Illinois News

Concerns are rising regarding the upcoming November election and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Gazette-Democrat reported Union County Clerk Lance Meisenheimer wrote a letter listing concerns about the election, which could turn into a vote-by-mail only election based on legislation the Illinois House and Senate are considering. 

"My concerns were listed on why I believe this would have been a bad decision for voters, myself as an Election Authority and taxpayers," Meisenheimer said in his letter to the Gazette-Democrat. "Both the Illinois House and Senate passed legislation that would change the November 3rd, 2020 election. Senate Bill 1863 isn’t what I had feared the most, but it does cause for some concerns on what exactly has changed."

In the legislation passed, all those who voted in the 2018 general, 2019 consolidated or 2020 general primary elections will be receiving an application in the mail that will ask if an individual will be voting in-person or by mail, according to the Gazette-Democrat. If an individual selects in-person, there is also the option for early voting. 

Anyone who will be voting by mail can submit a request through mail, email, in-person at an office or on the county clerk's website. Illinois residents were sent the application on Aug. 1.

But this process has also raised concerns with Meisenheimer. 

"Sending out applications to every voter will not be cheap for the county and simply was not budgeted for in my office," he told the Gazette-Democrat in a letter. "At this point the State Board of Elections will not confirm if we will be able to receive a reimbursement for these new added costs. I do hope, for local governments’ sake, they are able to fund these new costs for us that the state passed."

Meisenheimer is looking into ways to save costs with the post office, but ensures voters they will still be able to vote.

"What you the voter needs to know is that you will get to vote like always and you still have your option on how you’d like to vote," he told the Gazette-Democrat. "I feel that is the most important part to let everyone know and understand. It is also important to let everyone know that we will be making sure that each person only gets one ballot to cast."

Any voters who request an absentee ballot or to vote by mail will not be allowed to change their form of voting, meaning they cannot vote in person. The county will also be working to decrease fraudulent ballots. 

"We will also be making sure nobody abuses the vote by mail system and will be making sure that there will be no harvesting or fraudulent activities with the ballots or applications," Meisenheimer told the Gazette-Democrat. "We are working hard here in my office to make sure we keep elections fair and hope you trust us with this very important task as you vote this fall."