Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman lauded SB1326, the Election Standardization Act, as a piece of legislation that would be of value to Illinois voters.
Sponsored by state Sens. Sally Turner (R-Beason), Sue Rezin (R-Morris), and Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), the bill amends the election code by streamlining the process and making technical changes concerning the expenses of conducting a primary election.
“I have been dedicated to efforts to streamline operations and increase efficiency within our current system," Ackerman said. "I feel these reforms will help my efforts to accomplish both goals. This bill will benefit both election authorities and voters with a standardized best practice and will hopefully provide voters with a better understanding of how the process works.”
He commended Turner for working on the bill.
“We are hearing much conversation around the need to listen to the experts,” he continued. “Well, Sen. Sally Turner is an Illinois elections expert. Sen. Turner has spent years in the field with us county clerks managing and overseeing the elections process. She's one of the few in Springfield to have the experience ... and her voice on the subject is respected and appreciated.”
Included in the provisions of SB1326 is the requirement of election judges to explain any eventualities of delayed reporting of election returns. This, according to Ackerman is appreciated by the judges themselves.
"They want to know that they're doing the job right,” said Ackerman. “They know the value and the importance of being an election judge. They want to make sure that they're fulfilling that commitment to the best of their abilities.”
The Tazewell County clerk urged the state Senate to prioritize and “move the Election Standardization Act, so we can strengthen our existing elections process."
Turner is the former Logan County Clerk and Recorder. She was appointed as a state senator after former Bloomington Sen. Bill Brady retired.
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