Early Voting has Begun | March 19, 2024 Primary

 Early voting has already begun for the March 19th, 2024 primary election. VoteChampaign and the League of Women Voters of Champaign County have a non-partisan candidate guide available to look at all of the contested local races. It also includes a list of contested and uncontested races you may find on your ballot in Champaign County here. Sample ballots are available from the County Clerk's website under My Voter Information here.

For a list of Early Voting locations, times, dates, and mail-in ballot information and more, see the County Clerk's Many Ways To Vote webpage.

The primary election generally pits candidates of the same party against each other to be on the general election ballot later that year. There are likely to be more contested elections between nominees of each party in the November 5th general election. The big local contested race in this primary is between two Democratic candidates for Champaign County Coroner: Laurie Brauer and Seon Williams.

The League of Women Voters had a candidate forum with both Democratic candidates last week:

The VoteChampaign / LWV non-partisan candidate guide also had questionnaire answers from both Laurie Brauer and Seon Williams.

Precinct Committeeperson candidates probably do not get enough attention in local political coverage. They play an important role in organizing each party's get out the vote activities and voting at county level political party meetings. This is why some county parties may seem more extreme or moderate. It can also play a role in which internal party factions / ideologies control nominees appointed to vacancies.

The vacancy issue has been especially critical with local Democratic Party politics on the County Board with many younger and up and coming candidates being elected recently. When a younger elected official moves to a new home, even within the county, they often find themselves in a new district. If their career takes them elsewhere, even to other county positions, the Party plays a primary role in nominating who will replace the seat previously held by that party (under current rules).