PEKIN, Ill. – Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman says a “silent voice” is about to be heard on election days in his county.
Ackerman announced a $28,000 grant on Monday to improve signage at every polling place in Tazewell County. He says it will add to signs a phone number to contact an election judge to set up curbside voting at the polling place, for disabled people who may not have easy access to cast their vote.
“Without that phone number, without that ability to let the election judges know inside, that that service is available, how do they communicate?” said Ackerman.
The new signs will be in place at all polling locations by next year’s March primaries.
Ackerman believes that while 100% turnout for an election is a goal that’s almost never achieved, the new signs can help them get closer to it.
“One survey found that if people with disabilities voted at the same percentage as all other Americans, that would add an additional two million voters to the voter rolls,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman says ADA-friendly physical improvements are also planned at the FOLEPI Building in East Peoria and the Washington Township building.
