On Tuesday, the general election polls will be open throughout Coles County with a ballot of proposals, candidates and questions to be voted on.

In total, there are 35 parts of the 2022 election ballot in Coles County. However, many political positions are unopposed, meaning only one candidate is listed on the ballot for that position.

Amendment vote:

First is a yes or no vote to amend the Illinois Constitution to include the Worker’s Rights Amendment within Article I.

The amendment reads: “Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. No law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment.”

This means Illinois workers would be able to negotiate and gather to further their benefits and pay at their workplace without joining or being a part of a union.

Afterwards on the ballot begins the political positions facing election or reelection.

Federal elections:

Federally, there is one election for United States senator representing Illinois there are four candidate options.

• Tammy Duckworth, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Kathy Salvi, Republican party
• Bill Redpath, Independent
• A write-in option is available

State elections:

For state, there is the election for governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, and treasurer.

For Illinois governor and lieutenant governor, there are four options:

• JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell, Republican party
• Scott Schluter and John Phillips, Libertarian party
• A write-in option is available

For the Illinois attorney general, there are three options.

• Kwame Raoul, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Thomas G. DeVore, Republican party
• Daniel K. Robin, Libertarian party

For Illinois secretary of state, the current secretary of state, Jesse White, is not running for reelection for secretary of state.

There are four options this year.

• Alexi Giannoulias, Democratic party
• Dan Brady, Republican party
• Jon Stewart, Libertarian party
• A write-in option is available

For Illinois comptroller, there are four candidate options.

• Susana A. Mendoza, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Shannon L. Teresi, Republican party
• Deirdre McCloskey, Libertarian party
• A write-in option is available

For Illinois treasurer, there are four candidate options.

• Michael W. Frerichs, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Tom Demmer, Republican party
• Preston Nelson, Libertarian party
• A write-in option is available

Congressional district elections:

For congressional district elections, two are on the ballot for Coles County voters.

For representative in Congress of the 12th congressional district, there are two candidate options.

• Homer “Chip” Markel, Democratic party
• Mike Bost, Republican party (Running for reelection)

For representative in Congress of the 15th congressional district, there are two candidate options.

• Paul J. Lange, Democratic party
• Mary Miller, Republican party (Running for reelection)

Legislative elections:

For legislative elections, there is one election.

State senator for the 51st legislative district is on the ballot for Coles County with one candidate Chapin Rose representing the Republican party running for reelection.

Illinois state representative elections:

There are two representative elections on the ballot in Coles County.

The first is for an Illinois state representative in the general assembly in the 101th representative district. The only candidate is Chris Miller representing the Republican party and running for reelection.

For the Illinois state representative in the general assembly in the 102nd representative district there is only one candidate. The candidate is Adam M. Niemerg representing the Republican party and is running for reelection.

Coles County local elections:

For Coles County election, there are 16 total, 12 of which are Coles County Board district representative elections.

For county clerk and recorder, Julie Cox is the only candidate running for reelection representing the Republican party.

For county treasurer, George E. Edwards is the only candidate running for reelection and representing the Republican party.

For county sheriff, there is one candidate representing the Republican party Kent D. Martin.

The regional superintendent of schools in Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby counties is up for election. There is one candidate running for reelection is Kyle Thompson representing the Republican party.

For the 12 district Coles County Board elections, seven of the districts have one candidate running.

• District one: Darrell Cox, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• District two: Michael “Mike” Clayton, Republican party
• District four: Jeremy B. Doughty, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• District five: John L. Doty, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• District seven: Nancy Purdy, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• District eight: Rick “Shookie” Shook, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• District nine: Denise Corray, Republican party (Running for reelection)

Five of the county board districts have more than one candidate option.

For district three, there are two candidates on the ballot.

• Michael Watts, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Andrew Shick, Republican party

For district six, there are two candidates.

• Lisa A. Jaco, Republican party (Running for reelection)
• Robb Perry, Independent

For district 10, there is one candidate and a write-in option available. The one listed candidate is Tad Freezeland representing the Republican party.

For district 11, there are two candidates.

• Matt Titus, Democratic party
• Robert Bennet, Republican party (Running for reelection)

For district 12, there are two candidates.

• Gail Crane Mason, Democratic party (Running for reelection)
• Kyle Barrow, Republican party

Judicial elections:

For judicial elections, there are five elections.

First, there are two judicial elections to fill vacant seats in the appellate and circuit court.

For the election for judge of the appellate court for the fifth judicial district to fill the vacancy of David K. Overstreet, there are two candidates.

• Brian Roberts, Democratic party
• Mike McHaney, Republican party

For the election for judge of the circuit court of the fifth judicial district to fill the vacancy of James R. Glenn, which has one candidate Brain Bower representing the Republican party.

There are three elections for judicial retention where it is a yes or no vote to the judges retaining their judge position.

The three judicial retentions are:

• Judy Cates, Democratic party, Judge of the appellate court fifth judicial district
• Matt Sullivan, Republican party, Judge of the circuit court fifth judicial circuit
• Jonathan T. Braden, Republican party, Judge of the circuit court fifth judicial district

Proposition vote:

At the end of the ballot, there are two propositions to be voted yes or no on.

The first proposition is for the Sullivan CUSD. No. 300 referendum regarding board membership at large, which reads:

“Shall members of the Board of Education of Sullivan Community Unit School District No. 300, Coles, Moultrie and Shelby Counties, Illinois, be elected in 2023 and thereafter, at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district instead of the current restriction that not more than three (3) members on the board of education may be selected from one (1) congressional township in the school district?”

The second proposition is for the Arcola CUSD. No. 306 referendum regarding board membership at large, which reads:

“Shall members of the Board of Education of Arcola Community Unit School District No. 306, Coles and Douglas Counties, Illinois, be elected in 2023 and thereafter, at large and without restriction by area of residence within the district instead of the current restriction that not more than three (3) members on the board of education may be selected from one (1) congressional township in the school district?”

Voting during the general election on Tuesday is from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all polling locations in Coles County. 

Madelyn Kidd can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@gmail.com.