Bureau County Clerk: 25 mail-in ballots, write-in candidates to consider before election results are finalized

PRINCETON — Election night at Bureau County Courthouse could not have gone any smoother Tuesday evening.

There were no snags in tallying the ballots or getting results online. Unofficial results were posted online shortly after 9 p.m.

Bureau County Clerk Matt Eggers predicted a 25% voter turnout for this consolidated election and the county actually came in at 24.6%. He said voting stayed steady in Spring Valley, Ladd, Dalzell, Walnut and Sheffield.

Bureau County Clerk Matt Eggers reviews results of the Nov. 3 General Election.

As far as vote-by-mail ballots, Eggers said 198 were requested, which was more than normal compared to past consolidated elections. Eggers said more people are becoming aware of the option and like it. Of those 198 requested, 173 vote-by-mail ballots were returned to the county clerk’s office by Tuesday, meaning there are still 25 outstanding ballots that have two weeks to make their way back to the office to be counted.

Depending on where those ballots come in from, there is potential they could sway results for a few contested races in the county. The race for Tiskilwa Village President came in close on Tuesday with incumbent Charles “Randy” Philhower ending the evening with 86 votes (48.59%) compared to newcomer Michael Murray who had 91 votes (51.41%). The race for Dalzell Village President is also sitting close between candidates Gary Lee Orlandi with 157 votes (51.64%) and James Turigliatti with 132 votes (43.42%).

There are write-in candidates throughout the county to consider for some races, as well. Eggers said votes for these candidates will be counted within the next two weeks before election results become official. He confirmed there were write-ins for a Walnut Township race, a Milo Township race, village of DePue trustee and DePue School Board.

Early voting in the county stayed pretty steady, although low, with 859 voters. Voters had the option to vote early in the Bureau County Clerk’s Office, Spring Valley City Clerk’s Office or Princeton Moose Lodge.

Eggers said the only surprising matter throughout Election Day was having to print extra ballots for eight precincts that cover Sheffield, Wyanet, Walnut, Dalzell and Spring Valley.

A stack of election equipment is organized on election night at Bureau County Courthouse on Tuesday, April 6.