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A prudent move by the Cook County Clerk’s Office will cut about $1 million in expenses.
Clerk David Orr recently announced that 264 precincts will be eliminated in suburban Cook County. This represents a reduction of about 14 percent in the number of precincts for the 2012 election cycle.
On Nov. 1, the County Board unanimously approved Orr’s request to eliminate or combine these precincts. Berwyn will lose five precincts as will Brookfield. La Grange will lose three precincts. Riverside Township will remain unaffected.
Losing the number of polling places available could be a source of concern for some people, but it’s not warranted in this case. Orr said early voting and absentee-by-mail voting have become increasingly popular in the last several years, lessening the burden on precinct workers come Election Day.
Nearly 25 percent of all voters in 2008 cast their ballots before Election Day, according to information from Orr’s office. County officials expect this trend to increase for the 2012 election.
Orr’s election budget request for 2012 was $24.6 million, about $3 million less than it was for 2008. This is an 11 percent reduction, despite rising operation and personnel costs, he said.
Reducing the number of precincts has been an ongoing effort in Orr’s office. This means that expenses pertaining to election judges, equipment programming and delivery, and polling place rental fees will decrease, Orr’s office said.
There are 829 fewer precincts in suburban Cook County than there were in 2002, a decrease of 33 percent. Prior to the March 20 primary, voters will receive updated information about redrawn precinct boundaries and their appropriate polling places.
With some government spending out of control, it’s refreshing to see one agency actually lowering its costs. Orr, his staff members and the County Board deserve credit for this achievement.
A prudent move by the Cook County Clerk’s Office will cut about $1 million in expenses.
Clerk David Orr recently announced that 264 precincts will be eliminated in suburban Cook County. This represents a reduction of about 14 percent in the number of precincts for the 2012 election cycle.
On Nov. 1, the County Board unanimously approved Orr’s request to eliminate or combine these precincts. Berwyn will lose five precincts as will Brookfield. La Grange will lose three precincts. Riverside Township will remain unaffected.
Losing the number of polling places available could be a source of concern for some people, but it’s not warranted in this case. Orr said early voting and absentee-by-mail voting have become increasingly popular in the last several years, lessening the burden on precinct workers come Election Day.
Nearly 25 percent of all voters in 2008 cast their ballots before Election Day, according to information from Orr’s office. County officials expect this trend to increase for the 2012 election.
Orr’s election budget request for 2012 was $24.6 million, about $3 million less than it was for 2008. This is an 11 percent reduction, despite rising operation and personnel costs, he said.
Reducing the number of precincts has been an ongoing effort in Orr’s office. This means that expenses pertaining to election judges, equipment programming and delivery, and polling place rental fees will decrease, Orr’s office said.
There are 829 fewer precincts in suburban Cook County than there were in 2002, a decrease of 33 percent. Prior to the March 20 primary, voters will receive updated information about redrawn precinct boundaries and their appropriate polling places.
With some government spending out of control, it’s refreshing to see one agency actually lowering its costs. Orr, his staff members and the County Board deserve credit for this achievement.
