Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds John C. Ackerman spent “Help America Vote Day” inside a Pekin Community High School classroom, using a hands on lesson to show students how local elections are secured — and why their participation matters.

The visit was part of an ongoing civic education partnership with the office of State Representative Travis Weaver. Students cast ballots to choose what the official State of Illinois color should be, a lighthearted vote designed to introduce them to the mechanics of real world elections. As they marked and submitted their ballots, Ackerman explained the security features built into Tazewell County’s paper ballots and the tabulators used in every election.

Ackerman also used the opportunity to connect the classroom exercise to the national purpose of “Help America Vote Day,” established by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to encourage Americans to register, vote, and serve as poll workers. He noted that Tazewell County relies on more than 500 Election Judges each election cycle and has developed streamlined procedures to ensure results are calculated quickly while maintaining strict accuracy.

“Our office takes great pride in our transparency, outreach, and leadership of elections within the State of Illinois,” Ackerman said in a statement marking the day. Tazewell County remains the only county in Illinois to receive the U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Clearinghouse Award for “Excellence in Election Administration,” earning the national recognition in both 2024 and 2025.

During the PCHS visit, Ackerman encouraged eligible students to register to vote and highlighted the important role young people can play as Election Judges — a paid position that helps staff polling places and support secure, efficient elections.

He also emphasized that the Clerk’s Office welcomes residents with questions about election safeguards. “It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Tazewell County in this vital role,” Ackerman said. “We invite anyone with concerns about how our elections are protected to stop by our office anytime and allow us to showcase our policies and procedures.”

For students at PCHS, the day offered a close up look at how local democracy functions — and a reminder that the next generation of voters and poll workers is already taking shape.