Kane County likely to get some new voter precincts

GENEVA -- There could be four or five new precincts in Kane County this November.

The new precincts, including one in Elgin Township, would be split off from existing precincts that have gotten too big, creating long lines on Election Day at the polling place.

"We're trying to keep the precincts at 1,500 (voters)," county clerk Deputy Director Jay Bennett told the county board's election precincts subcommittee this week.

Growth of precincts has been an issue for a while. County Clerk John Cunningham, along with the county board, has waited to split any precincts because creating a new precinct means additional expenses. New precincts require more election judges and, in some cases, new eSlate electronic voting machines.

County board member Bill Wyatt, R-Aurora, subcommittee chairman, said there are about 10 precincts "that are getting to the point where it's a problem."

The biggest of those is the 47th Precinct in Elgin Township, west of Randall Road, where 3,822 registered voters live. Subcommittee members appeared supportive of the clerk's plan to split that precinct three ways, creating precincts of 959, 1,361, and 1,502 voters.

Bennett told committee members the split follows Elgin School District U46 boundaries, and while creating two new precincts, actually eliminates one ballot style. The polling place already is outside the precinct, at Elgin Community College, Bennett said.

Another precinct split that committee members seemed to approve of is in the 2nd Precinct in Sugar Grove Township, which runs south to Kendall County.

That precinct has 2,413 voters, but by giving the Lakewood Creek North subdivision (which is in Yorkville and Kane County) its own precinct, there would be two, more manageable precincts.

The precinct with the subdivision would have 1,258 voters, and the rest of the area would have 1,151 voters.

The committee took no action this week but plans to do so at its May 14 meeting. Wyatt said committee will look at a two-year plan, possibly splitting four or five precincts this year and four or five next year.