Local election embraces the past with the return of the Chalkboard
 

[February 09, 2017]  LINCOLN - Logan County Clerk Sally J. Turner announced today that the “chalkboard” will reemerge into the Courthouse rotunda on February 28, 2017. “The chalkboard was a big part of past elections in Logan County,” said Turner. “The City Primary is small and has sparked interest with many in the Lincoln community. I thought it would be a great time to pull out the old visual.”

Turner recalls the 1980’s when the Courthouse rotunda was a gathering place on election night. Candidates and their supporters waited there for ballots to be counted and results to be hand written on the chalkboard. As each precinct was tallied, the chalkboard was updated with the newest results. In 1998, the chalkboard was replaced by electronic visual aids.

Although the County Clerk is embracing a bit of nostalgia for the primary election, many of the modern practices will still be used. Tallies will continue to be totaled in the normal process, relying heavily on computers. Up to the minute election results, will still be found under the “Election Results” link on the County Clerk’s Website (www.logancountyil.gov).

“We hope that reviving the chalkboard and all the memories that go with it will bring people to the courthouse and encourage citizens to participate in this election,” remarked Turner. Historically, small, city primaries have a voter turnout of about 11%. “Ideally, people will feel they are a part of the process and choose to register to vote, cast a ballot and join the celebration of an election.”

The chalkboard will only be out for one night. It won’t be making an appearance at future elections; but, for one evening, Logan County will celebrate its past.

For more information about registration and voting, email the Logan County Clerk at elections@l ogancountyil.gov  or call (217)-732-4148.

[Sally Turner, Logan County Clerk]