Polling places moving due to coronavirus as Pritzker issues disaster proclamation

Telegraph (Alton, IL)

Mar. 12--EDWARDSVILLE -- Madison County voters in two polling places will have to go to a new location March 17 to cast their primary ballots because of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's disaster declaration regarding COVID-19.

Madison County Clerk Debra Ming-Mendoza on Wednesday afternoon said two polling locations at Asbury Village (Methodist Village) in Godfrey and Meridian Village in Glen Carbon will have to be moved because the declaration restricts voting where senior citizens live.

In Godfrey, four precincts will be affected -- Alton 14, Godfrey 2, Godfrey 11 and Godfrey 12.

"We have relocated those precincts," she said. "We are still in the same neighborhood."

Ming-Mendoza said Asbury Village is allowing them to use two villas at 5219 and 5222 Aldergate located directly across the street from the original polling place. The facility will post signage and have people available to greet voters and direct them across the street, she said. Signs will be prominently displayed directing which villa voters will have to go to.

In Glen Carbon, the Meridian Village polling place -- which Houses Edwardsville 20, Edwardsville 26 and Edwardsville 27 -- will be moved to Calvary Baptist Church at 2249 Illinois State Route 157, Edwardsville.

"We are so sorry for the inconvenience," Ming-Mendoza said. "We're so grateful for Methodist (Asbury) Village and Calvary Baptist church for allowing us to move to their locations."

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

On Monday Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation allowing the state to access additional federal resources and help prepare for additional measures. On Wednesday, he criticized President Donald Trump and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for not providing tests requested in Illinois.

"We need a lot more help and we're hearing very little," Pritzker said. "I've being as loud as I can on this subject, and I think they're going to be reactive to it.

"We're not getting enough tests," he said. "We're pressing hard; we have a limited number of tests and we're using them appropriately."

On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the CDC will provide $14,667,281 in funding to Illinois in support of its response efforts to COVID-19.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The group said the disease is now present in at least 114 countries and has killed more than 4,000 people.

For information about the March 17 primary visit www.madisonvotes.com. For information about COVID-19 visit the Madison County Health Department website at www.co.madison.il.us/departments/health.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.

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