Will Co. To Have 1 Vote-By-Mail Drop Box For April 6 Election

WILL COUNTY, IL — The Will County Clerk's Office will be able to operate just one Vote-By-Mail drop box for the April 6 Consolidated Election, according to Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry.

In a release Tuesday, the office said that without a statute specifically authorizing the widespread use of the boxes, it can lawfully open only one. Legal counsel has advised the Will County Clerk’s Office that the only drop box it can operate is the one located directly outside its main office at 302 N. Chicago St., in downtown Joliet, since it is the only one that is under its direct control.

Ferry had opened eight drop boxes strategically situated throughout the county during the 2020 Presidential Election after the Illinois General Assembly passed a temporary law last year allowing for their use. That law, however, expired in January.

"Our program was a great success in the 2020 Presidential Election with nearly 40,000 Vote-By-Mail Ballots placed in our eight drop boxes," Ferry said. "We had hoped the General Assembly earlier this year would reauthorize the use of drop boxes permanently, so my office could reopen all eight for Will County voters."

The office had secured approval from all of its drop box hosts to use them this year pending the passage of a new law, she said, unfortunately that did not happen. The Election Code spells out in detail how Vote-By-Mail Ballots are to be received. The County Clerk’s Office follows the Election Code to the letter and relies on the advice of its legal counsel to interpret the law.

The drop box outside the Clerk’s Office will close promptly at 7 p.m. on April 6.

"I urge the General Assembly to pass legislation that once again allows us to use all of our drop boxes,” Ferry said. "I want to make certain that Will County voters have as many options as possible to participate in our elections."

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