The Madison County Board voted to establish new precinct boundaries, reducing the number of voting precincts from 225 to 191.
The resolution passed the Government Relations Committee on Dec. 23 before going before the full board at a special meeting.
Government Relations Committee Chairman Chris Guy introduced the resolution after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law allowing precincts to include up to 1,200 registered voters on Nov. 15. Guy said the law previously allowed for up to 800 registered voters per precinct.
Guy said that by consolidating all possible precincts in accordance with the law change, Madison County will save 15 percent, or about $30,000, on each election. He explained that there would be fewer election judges to recruit, which has become more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new precinct boundaries consolidate 34 precincts. Alhambra’s two precincts will be consolidated to one, five precincts will be consolidated in Collinsville Township, three in Edwardsville Township, one in Fort Russell Township, one in Chouteau Township, six in Wood River Township, one in Foster Township, three in Venice, eight in Granite City, eight in Alton and one in Godfrey.
“We consolidated as many precincts as we could,” Guy said.
During the County Board meeting, it was explained that precinct consolidations can always be done in the summer. The change was also possible last month due to Pritzker’s law change.
The new precinct boundary changes are implemented in time for the November 2022 midterm elections.