FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2020

Contact:

Charles B. Pelkie Jr.

(815) 740-4613 Office

(779) 702-6337 Mobile

Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry announces new Early Voting location,

expanded evening, weekend hours in Eastern Will County

JOLIET – Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry is pleased to announce expanded opportunities for Early Voting in Eastern Will County.

The County Clerk recently finalized an agreement with the Village of Steger to bring its Louis Sherman Community Center on board as one of the newest Early Voting locations in Will County.

In addition, Governors State University has agreed to extend its Early Voting hours to include both evening and weekend hours.

Village of Steger: Louis Sherman Community Center, 3501 Hopkins Ave., Steger, will serve citizens during the two-week Early Voting time frame prescribed by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which starts on March 2, 2020 and continues through March 13, 2020.

The County Clerk worked with Steger Mayor Kenneth Peterson Jr. and Village Administrator Mary Jo Seehausen on the Early Voting agreement. In advance of the March 17 Primary Election, the Louis Sherman site will provide Early Voting services for citizens throughout Will County during the following hours:

·        8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3;

·        8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 and Friday, March 6;

·        8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9 and Tuesday, March 10;

·        8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11 and Friday, March 13;

·        The center will not be open for Early Voting on Thursday, March 5 or Thursday, March 12.

Governors State University: In anticipation of the large voter turnout for the upcoming 2020 elections, the County Clerk also worked with Governors State University to extend Early Voting hours to include evening and weekend hours. Citizens from throughout Will County will be able to vote in advance of the March 17 Primary Election in the Hall of Governors during the following hours:

·        10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. between Monday, March 2 and Friday, March 6;

·        9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 7;

·        10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. between Monday, March 9 and Friday, March 13;

·        9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14.

Crete Township: Finally, Crete Township Clerk Jim Buiter has added two additional days during the second week of Early Voting: Monday March 9, and Tuesday, March 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the past Crete Township has been open only for the first week of Early Voting. The office will not offer Early Voting during the lunch period from noon to 1 p.m. on those days. Crete Township also will be open for Early Voting during those same hours from Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 6 during the first week of Early Voting.

“The additional site and expanded hours will address concerns by many in Eastern Will County that there were not enough options for Early Voting during busy elections,” Staley Ferry said. “I want to thank Steger Mayor Kenneth Peterson and Administrator Mary Jo Seehausen for making Louis Sherman Center available for this important service, as well as Crete Township Clerk Jim Buiter for expanding hours at his office. In addition, having evening and weekend hours at Governors State University will make Early Voting much more convenient for commuters.”

These are the latest in a series of new Early Voting locations announced by the Will County Clerk for 2020. She recently brought on board the Spanish Community Center, located on Joliet’s East Side, and Prairie Activity & Recreation Center in Plainfield. She also secured an agreement with the Village of Shorewood to serve as an Early Voting site during the 2019 Consolidated Election as well as for both 2020 elections.

For a complete list of Early Voting locations, visit thewillcountyclerk.com.