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URBANA — System outages that rendered voting machines inoperable at Champaign County polling places Tuesday morning have been resolved, Clerk Aaron Ammons said shortly after 8 a.m.

To make up for lost time, Ammons said his office is “working to extend election hours to 9 p.m..”

Voters waiting in line at several locations earlier in the day said election officials told them technical difficulties delayed the process. In some cases, those waiting in line left because it was unclear how long it would take to remedy the situation.

Ammons blamed the problem on the county “vendor.” Earlier this morning, he said via text message that he was “working with the State Attorney to obtain an injunction to extend voting hours.”

Polling stations opened today at 6 a.m. and were scheduled to close at 7 p.m.

Colleen and Mark Ruebke, from rural Urbana, went to vote at the Somer Township Building shortly after 6 a.m. “and there seemed to be some sort of problem. They said at the moment the polling place was closed “.

Colleen Ruebke said election officials took their contact information and indicated they would contact them when the issues were resolved.

“It was very frustrating,” she said. “We’re retired, so we don’t have to go to work. I feel bad for the people who were standing in line and saying they couldn’t wait any longer and had to go to work. “

Sterling Frye of St. Joseph went to three polling places this morning – without success. He had to go to work in Champaign and said he hoped to be able to vote later today.

“Really frustrating,” he said. “I’m used to voting early, but this year I was going to stick it out and vote on Election Day. I’m going to do it and it’s being stolen from me.”

As of dawn today, nearly 52,000 voters had already cast ballots in the general election, Chief Deputy Clerk Angie Patton told The News-Gazette. This represents more than half of the total number of voters in the last presidential election (96,185 in 2020).

“I understand that this is incredibly frustrating, but it is important that everyone maintains their commitment to exercising their right to vote,” outgoing Sen. Paul Faraci, a Champaign Democrat, told The News-Gazette Tuesday morning. “…I encourage everyone to stick with it because every vote counts.”