And hand sanitizer is available to help relieve health concerns
by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 12, 2020) – They are called “Polling Place Technicians” this year, not Equipment Managers and not Election Judges. The change in title means little to Linda Powell, George Gomoll, Sheller Washington, and Clarice Pittman, who have years of experience at area polling places. Powell, Washington, and Pittman are now familiar faces at the Lansing Public Library, and Gomoll is a new addition to the team—he has Election Day experience, but this is his first Early Voting stint. Led by Washington, the team creates an efficient, helpful, calming atmosphere for Early Voting, which extends through March 16.
Serving 100 or more voters a day, the team has had only one occasion where someone had to wait to use one of the 7 voting machines. The machines look like giant iPads, with instructions and candidate names appearing in a large, readable font. After being guided through the selections, voters are instructed to review their ballot and then print it. The paper ballot is initialed by Pittman before the voter inserts it into the ballot box.
The Presidential Primary Election is on Tuesday March 17, and voters who wait until then to cast their ballots will be required to visit their official polling place. From now through March 16, voters can choose any Early Voting location to cast a ballot.
The closest Early Voting location for Lansing residents is the Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Avenue, on the second floor, in the glass-walled Quiet Room.
The remaining hours for Early Voting are as follows, though these may be expanded in response to apprehension about crowds on Election Day. As updated hours are confirmed, they will be published:
- Monday–Friday, March 9–13, 9:00am–7:00pm
- Saturday, March 14, 9:00am–5:00pm
- Sunday, March 15, 10:00am–4:00pm
- Monday, March 16, 9:00am–7:00pm
Voter registration can also be completed during Early Voting, or online at vote.gov.
Voters can view their sample ballot ahead of time by visiting www.cookcountyclerk.com/service/your-voter-information.
Thank you for the visual content of the Lansing Library Early Voting location and the PPT,s helping the voters making their time as smoothly as possible. When there is a line, it’s less than 5 minutes.