Vote-By-Mail Ballot Boxes In Will Co. To Help Democracy 'Thrive'

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Voters in Will County can cast their votes securely as Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry announced Tuesday that her office will locate eight drop boxes across the county in which voters may deposit their completed Vote By Mail envelopes.

The drop boxes will be placed strategically throughout Will County to serve voters in every region. All the drop boxes will be in their locations starting on Sept. 24, which is the first day ballots can be mailed to voters by the Will County Clerk. They will remain in their locations through Election Day, the release stated.

Drop boxes will be placed at:

• The Will County Clerk’s Office, 302 N. Chicago St., in downtown Joliet. The drop box will be under camera surveillance outside the building. Voters may drive up and deposit their ballots at any time.
• Fountaindale Public Library, 300 W. Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook. The box will be located inside the library, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
• Naperville 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville. Located inside the library, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
• Plainfield Public Library, 15025 S. Illinois St., Plainfield. Located inside the library, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed Sunday.
• White Oak Library, 121 E. Eighth St., Lockport. Located inside the library, which is open from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
• Wilmington Public Library, 201 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington. Located inside the library, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
• Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road, Frankfort. Located inside the library, which is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is closed Sunday.
• Governor State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. Located inside the university’s main building, which will be open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Recent operational changes within the U.S. Postal Service have reportedly led to widespread mail delays, elimination of overtime for postal workers, carriers being instructed to leave mail behind and the decommissioning of mail sorting machines.

"The drop boxes offer another way to submit a completed Vote By Mail packet for anyone who has concerns about mail delivery," Ferry said. "These public places have either evening or weekend hours that provide convenient drop off times for voters. Locating boxes inside our local public libraries or our universities also will increase security surrounding our ballots."

She thanked the local libraries and the Governor State University for their willingness to provide secure locations to serve the voters.

"Libraries and universities are among our most important civic institutions when it comes to educating and informing citizens. Your assistance will help our democracy thrive during this pandemic and into the future," she said.

The newly-purchased white metal boxes will be clearly marked for voters. The boxes will be emptied on a daily basis by trained election representatives. All ballots will be immediately transported to the Will County Clerk’s Office.

Voters should be certain to follow instructions on their Vote By Mail packet closely before depositing ballots in a drop box. They should seal their completed ballots inside the provided Ballot Envelope. After signing the Ballot Envelope, they should seal it inside the provided Return Envelope as if they were planning to mail it.

Voters should not attempt to leave their Vote By Mail ballots with elections officials at our Early Voting locations. Nor should they attempt to leave them with Election Judges on Election Day. They must be placed in a drop box.

For more information on Vote By Mail, including how to fill out and submit an application for a Vote By Mail Ballot, visit the Will County Clerk’s Office online at thewillcountyclerk.com.