Few metro-east residents vote in the primary, but they’re steadfast in their beliefs
Metro-east turnout has been extremely low in Tuesday’s primary election, but voters who are showing up have their reasons.
Some are focused on the Illinois governor’s race. Six candidates are vying to be the Republican nominee running against Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, in the November general election.
“All of the Republicans on the ballot are good candidates, and I think any of them would be better than Pritzker,” said Jerry Bruns, 78, of Belleville, who voted at Douglas School.
Bruns also is concerned about “the direction the country is going.”
“It’s a very important primary,” he said. “I think we have a lot of things that threaten the existence of our country, like people who want to abolish the Supreme Court because they don’t like a decision.”
In contrast, Jessie Gomez, 43, of Belleville, supports Pritzker and other state officials who are pro-choice.
She voted at the county clerk’s office at St. Clair County Courthouse on Tuesday.
“I want to make sure the people in office adhere to my same beliefs,” Gomez said. “The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a big deal. I didn’t agree with it. I want to insure that Illinois stays a Democratic state, and there’s no regression in our reproductive rights.”
Early voting also light
Polling places throughout the metro-east were relatively quiet Tuesday, and not because of early voting.
Only 3,854 people in St. Clair County cast ballots prior to Election Day, compared to 6,000 or 7,000 for some primaries and more than 50,000 for general elections, according to County Clerk Tom Holbrook.
“Turnout is very light, except in the areas where there’s a referendum,” he said early Tuesday afternoon. “You’re talking about probably the lowest turnout in 10 years. I don’t know if it’s the timing of the election or the voters’ interest in it.”
Pritzker signed a bill last year to move the primary from March 15 to June 28 due to COVID-related delays in the reporting of 2020 census data, which forms the basis for legislative redistricting.
Election judges in the Collinsville 1 and 2 precincts reported that 144 people had cast ballots by 1 p.m. Tuesday, out of more than 2,000 eligible voters. About 40 voted early in Collinsville 2.
“It’s a primary, and primaries are always low,” said election judge Mary Kay Ogle. “I’ve been doing this since 2004.”
Redistricting confusion
Several metro-east election judges noted that redistricting was causing some confusion on Tuesday.
“We’ve had people come in and say, ‘Why aren’t Rodney Davis and Mary Miller on the ballot?’” said election judge Lisa McCormick in Collinsville 1. “They have no idea they’ve been redistricted. They’re going to the wrong polling places.
“But it’s a good thing that it’s happening now. That’s better than it happening in the general election.”
McCormick was referring to a heated race between U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis and U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, who are vying to become the Republican nominee for a newly reconfigured 15th Congressional District in Illinois.
Election judge Nick Brunslein reported similar problems in the Belleville 24 and 25 precincts, whose residents vote at Douglas School.
“We’ve had a couple of people who came in to vote for a certain candidate, but that candidate wasn’t on the ballot,” he said. “(The county) sent people letters with their new cards, telling them to check and see if there were any changes, but people didn’t read them.”
About 75 voters had cast ballots in Belleville 24 and 25 by lunchtime Tuesday.
Millstadt turnout higher
One area where some polling places seemed busier on Tuesday is Millstadt Community Consolidated School District 160.
Residents are voting on a referendum that seeks to expand Millstadt Library District, which now has the same boundary as the village of Millstadt. A yes vote would annex other properties in the school district, excluding those already in Belleville or Smithton library districts.
“We’ve been steady the whole time,” said election judge Greg Thomure about three hours after voting started at 6 a.m. in the Stookey 1 precinct at The Quail Club in rural Millstadt.
“We have really not had a break. If there was a lull, it was two or three minutes. The library (referendum) has been a big part of that.”
Election judges reported a lower turnout at Millstadt Village Hall, a polling place that serves mostly village residents but also non-residents. About 30 of 900 eligible voters had cast ballots by 8 a.m. Tuesday.
“We have not been overrun,” said election judge Judy Sutter. “When we opened the doors at 6 o’clock, there was one guy.”
Passion on both sides
Millstadt resident Michael Steven, 47, showed up at Village Hall on Tuesday to support the library district expansion effort.
“I’m pro-library,” he said. “I love libraries. It’s good for the kids. They get most of their information online, but it’s good to have a physical library. There’s just something about holding a book. I would like to see the library move into a bigger space.”
One of the reasons library officials are proposing the expansion is that a larger tax base would help them pay for a new building they say is needed for the many programs they offer.
“I think all elections are important, especially primary elections, and the library vote is obviously a very hot topic,” said voter Andrew Hoerner, 34, of Millstadt. “I’m in favor of annexation. I just think it’s good for our community.”
On the other side is Toya Burdge, 68, of rural Millstadt, who drove up to vote at The Quail Club in her convertible Mazda Miata, which she had turned into a rolling billboard with a “Vote No” sign propped in back.
“I am rural, and this was an underhanded way to get a new library,” Burdge said. “If you want it, don’t tax our pastures and our cows. They can’t vote.”
Sign controversy
On Tuesday morning, election judges at Village Hall called police to report Thomas Halfhill, 36, of rural Millstadt, an expansion opponent who had posted “Vote No” signs next to “Polling Place” signs. He insisted they were legal.
Halfhill had also posted “Vote No” signs next to “Polling Place” signs at The Quail Club. Election officials removed them, saying they violated electioneering laws by being too close to the polls.
“We live in Illinois, and taxes are so high right now,” Halfhill said. “And the library tried sneaking this by us. I just don’t think they posted it like they should have.”
Another opponent, Jim Gunter, 57, of rural Millstadt, questioned why election judges at The Quail Club ran out of paper ballots by 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, forcing him to come back later.
Election judges did run out of paper ballots, according to Holbrook, but he said Gunter could have voted with a touch screen that produces a paper printout. Touch screens are used for all early voting in St. Clair County.
“We printed out more ballots and had them (at the polling place) in a half hour,” Holbrook said.
Patriotic duty
A few people at metro-east polling places Tuesday said they weren’t really motivated by any particular candidate or issue. They just think voting is patriotic.
“I haven’t missed a vote since 1968,” said Van Horn, 84, of Belleville, who voted at Douglas School. “I’ll be 85 in November. I think everybody should vote. If you don’t vote, who are you going to crab at?
“I’m not going to say who I voted for. I don’t even tell my kids who I vote for. I just tell them to vote. I would like to see a Republican win once in a while, but it’s hard in this state when you’re going up against Cook County.”
Darryl Cross, 69, of Belleville, calls himself an “independent,” but he agrees with Horn’s philosophy on voting.
“All elections to me are important,” Cross said. “The Supreme Court can do what it wants. The Congress can do what it wants. But I want a say in what happens at the state and local level, especially tax wise.”
