In reversal, Peoria Election Commission votes to provide postage for mail-in ballots
The Peoria County Election Commission has reversed its decision to no longer include prepaid postage on mail-in ballots, following concerns from a host of organizations about the decision.
Peoria County's Election Commission had previously decided it would no longer provide the prepaid postage in a move that drew backlash and accusations of voter suppression from the Peoria NAACP. At the time, the election commission said it made the change to save Peoria County $30,000.
The commission voted 3-2 in a meeting Thursday to restore prepaid postage on mail-in ballots.
The commission's vote fell along party lines. Republicans Jim Manning and Jeanne Williamson voted to not reverse the decision, while three Democrats — Matt Bartolo, Valerie Timmes and Ryan Brady — voted to restore prepaid postage.
Manning, the commission's chairman, said he voted against the measure because he does not feel the county should have to incur the cost of paying for postage. A cost he estimated to be between $25,000 and $30,000.
"If it was a couple thousand dollars, maybe that's OK, but $20,000 or $30,000 is a big number to be asking the county to bear that burden," Manning said. "I've been accused of suppressing the vote by removing the postage. That argument makes no sense when we're making voting available to everybody to vote from the convenience of their kitchen or living room without having to leave their home."
More: Cost savings or voter suppression? Mail-in ballot change spurs debate in Peoria County
Local chapters of groups such as the NAACP, Peoria Proud, the ACLU, Change Peoria, PFLAG, League of Woman Voters, River City Rainbow Collective, Acorn Equality Fund, Peoria Transgender Society, Peoria IL NOW and the Peoria Guild of Black Artists, all pushed the commission to restore prepaid postage.
In a letter to the commission, the groups said not providing prepaid postage posed "unnecessary barriers" to voting. They argued the county's financial savings were "minor" in comparison to the impact not providing prepaid postage would have on elections.
Manning said there are not many counties in Illinois that provide prepaid postage, and Peoria is now in the minority of counties that do so. He also said costs will continue to grow.
Neighboring Tazewell and Woodford counties do not provide pre-paid postage on mail-in ballots and did not in 2022 or 2020.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria County will provide prepaid postage for mail ballots
