The Will County Clerk’s Office officially released final tallies of the March 19 primary election after canvassing was complete on Tuesday.

The official vote count was vital as several races in Will County were separated by hundreds of votes on primary night. Races in surrounding communities that include Bolingbrook, Romeoville and Lockport had no close races in the primary.

Voter turnout in Will County following canvassing was only 16.26 percent as only 69,952 of the 430,310 registered voters in the county voted in the March 19 primary. On primary night on March 19, the unofficial voter turnout in Will County was only 15.54 percent as only 66,857 of the 430,310 registered voters in the county voted.

One of the closer races was to serve residents of District 6 in Will County Board, as two people were elected to represent each party in the primary. The official winners after canvassing are incumbent Democrats Denise E. Winfrey, 1,684 votes, and former Will County Board member Herbert Brooks Jr., who received 1,325 votes. Incumbent Janet Diaz only received 859 votes. Winfrey and Brooks were unofficial winners on primary night. Brooks ran as a write-in candidate for Will County Board in 2022 after he was removed from the ballot for lack of valid signatures on his petition.

At the end of primary night, the only close election was for judge to represent the county’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court 2nd Subcircuit. On primary night, Democrat Jennifer M. Lynch had a narrow lead versus Democrat Rolonda V. Mitchell. Lynch held on to her lead as she officially garnered 3,049 votes compared to Mitchell’s 2,898 votes after canvassing was completed.

The close Lockport Township High School 205 referendum asking voters to approve a $85 million school building bonds issue was defeated as 6,960 people voted against it, compared to 6,066 who approved it. On primary night, the no votes were leading by 963.

Residents in Bolingbrook also decided if the village clerk position should remain an elected position or if it should be appointed by the mayor. As of primary night, no votes were leading with 4,227 votes compared to 2,096 people who voted yes in the binding referendum. Following canvassing, the no votes increased the total to 4,461, compared to 2,172 who said yes. Since the numbers stand, the village clerk post will continue to be an elected position. 

All results from primary night were considered unofficial as provisional ballots cast on Election Day and all remaining vote by mail ballots that were postmarked by March 19 were counted as provisional ballots on April 2. Results only became official after canvassing on Tuesday by the Will County Clerk’s Office.