Coronavirus won’t stop Illinois primary as Gov. Pritzker bans groups of 50 or more
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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday that gatherings of 50 people or more are banned to prevent the spread of coronavirus, though he stopped short of requesting a postponement of Tuesday’s election.
The state announced 12 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing the total to 105 cases in 15 counties.
A spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Elections said Tuesday’s primary elections would still go on, though the governor of Ohio announced he would request a delay of the March 17 primary in that state.
Spokesman Matt Dietrich explained Illinois’ decision in an email to reporters.
“Much of the voting for this election already has been done. Also, at this point there is no date in the foreseeable future when we can expect greater safety with any certainty,” Dietrich wrote. “Taking action to move to an all-mail ballot system, as has been suggested by some media members, fails to take into account the needs of many disabled voters who are unable to cast paper ballots by mail.”
As of Monday, 504,000 early votes had been cast, a 20% increase from 2016, according to Dietrich. There was an 83.8% increase in the number of mail ballots sent to voters.
Though Pritzker urged anyone who is sick — including poll workers — to stay home, he said people should be able to practice social distancing on Election Day. Voting does not require close contact, he said, and can be done at a distance from others.
“We do believe it’s safe,” Pritzker said.
Poll workers will routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and polling locations were also asked to display signs that explain social distancing practices, such as staying six feet away from others.
But the state is suffering from a lack of poll workers, who are typically in their 70s, said St. Clair County Clerk Tom Holbrook. St. Clair County lost roughly 400 election judges over the course of one week.
The elections board does not have the authority to delay an election. It would take action by the General Assembly to amend the Illinois Election Code or a court order.
The state has also issued guidance to local elections authorities for how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Illinois restaurants, bars and schools remain closed
St. Clair and Madison counties had already joined with St. Louis city and county and St. Charles County to ban gatherings of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus in the region.
On Sunday, Pritzker announced he was ordering all restaurants and bars in Illinois to close from the end of business Monday, March 16, through March 30.
The first two cases of coronavirus in the region came in St. Clair County, officials announced Saturday. Two women, one in her 60s and one in her 70s, have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in voluntary quarantine.
On Sunday, Illinois health officials announced the first case of coronavirus in Clinton County. That person, a woman in her 60s, is not a resident but had been visiting. She has also been quarantined.
On Friday, Pritzker ordered all schools in Illinois to close starting Tuesday, March 17. They will remain closed until March 30.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 3:20 PM.
