Chillicothe Public Library is hoping to help cut through the noise of election season and help empower people to find reliable information and participate in the important democratic process of electing our leaders and representatives. Attendees can tap into the expertise of community partners at two special programs coming up ahead of the March primary election. 

On Tuesday, February 27 at 6:00 pm, Dr. Cory Barker of Bradley University will present “Election Misinformation, Oversaturation, & How to Find Information on What Matters.” With the 2024 campaigns ramping up, we are once again being bombarded with campaign ads, fundraising text messages, horse-race coverage of polling data, and social media arguments. It’s well-known that elections are rife with mis- or disinformation, but some research shows that citizens are also frustrated by an oversaturation of campaign information. Join the conversation and learn more about how to navigate the wave of election information and what you can do to focus on the information that matters most to you. 

On Tuesday, March 5 at 6:00 pm, a representative of the Peoria County Election Commission will present “Ensuring Election Integrity in Peoria County.” The mission of the Peoria County Election Commission is to conduct accurate, secure, fair, and accessible local, state, and federal elections with the highest level of professionalism and integrity in a manner that fosters public trust and confidence in the democratic process. Learn what best practices and procedures the Peoria County Election Commission has in place to ensure the democratic process occurs with the utmost integrity. Discuss common myths about the voting process and what you can do to help debunk misinformation and increase voter confidence. 

You can also get voter registration help at the library, or register yourself online at ova.elections.il.gov. 

The programs described above are free and open to the public, and will take place at Chillicothe Public Library, 430 N. Bradley Ave., Chillicothe, IL. For more information, visit chillipld.org or call 309-274-2719.