Irene Pritzker's been keeping an eye on Peoria elections since before there was a Peoria County Election Commission.
The commission was formed nearly a decade ago, when the county clerk and recorder's election functions merged with the city's election commission.
As an observer with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters Greater Peoria, Pritzker doesn't actively participate in meetings or weigh in with her personal opinions. Rather, it's her role to record what's going on as a matter of ensuring government transparency.
"I am the league's official observer to the election commission. I do not speak for the league. I do not speak at these meetings with very, very rare exceptions," she said.
Pritzker said the election commission is currently in the midst of making preparations for the upcoming 2024 election. That involves changing some polling places and ensuring paper and other materials are purchased in bulk well ahead of time.
She noted that the election commission recently decided not to pay for postage on vote-by-mail return envelopes due to the expense. Pritzker said public speakers have criticized the decision repeatedly at meetings since then.
Pritzker also noted that election commission executive director Elizabeth Gannon has taken steps to be transparent with Democrats and Republicans alike about how the entire voting process works in the aftermath of the 2020 election.
"She took them on a tour of the election commission showing step by step. This is what happens. And this is how it's all handled. And people who used to come and complain are still coming to observe, but they're not complaining anymore. Because they were very impressed by the way she handled this whole situation very upfront," Pritzker said.
More information on how to become an observer is available on the League of Women Voters web site.
