URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Many spent Tuesday heading out to the polls to cast their ballots in this year’s Consolidated Election. They’re choosing who they want to lead their communities and schools, as well as where they want their tax dollars to go.

By 5 p.m. on Election Day, Aaron Ammons, the Champaign County Clerk, said about 6,000 people had voted in person that day and about 4,000 others voted early.

Once those ballots are counted, plus the ones in the mail, he estimates about 15-20% of voters will participate in this election, which is a pretty standard trend.

This year, Ammons feels questions about the Champaign School Board and City Council are driving people to the polls.

“I think those are important for our community, for our citizens who live here, to talk to each other and have that direct contact because those policies impact you immediately at the local level,” he said. “You’re choosing your school board members, and your chiefs of police because city council members will vote on those things. These are things we talk about daily and I think they’re extremely important.”

Locations across Champaign County are open until 7 p.m. Once they close, judges will begin counting. Ammons expects to have some unofficial results ready around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.