BLOOMINGTON - A lot of time and money has been put into the Nov. 4 election and not just by the two presidential candidates.

The two men seeking the job of McLean County circuit clerk have collectively invested more than $25,000, according to campaign disclosure forms filed with the State Board of Elections.

Other expenses including paying election judges and running the offices that oversee elections.

In the circuit clerk race, Republican Don Everhart, 1470 E. College Ave., Normal, reported more than $11,800 in cash contributions and nearly $600 in in-kind donations. The cash contributions included nearly $5,000 from the McLean County Republican Central Committee and $2,000 from the Illinois Republican Committee.

His opponent, Democrat Brian Plath, 3710 Rave Road, Bloomington, has reported contributions of nearly $16,000 and more than $5,800 in in-kind contributions. The McLean County Democratic Central Committee contributed $3,500; $1,000 came from the Prairie Political Action Committee; and $500 each came from the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Fund and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 99 Political Action Committee.

Candidates have to file reports with the state election board when their campaign exceeds $3,000 in contributions or expenditures.

None of the other candidates seeking McLean County offices have filed campaign disclosure forms for this election.

Meanwhile, a considerable amount of taxpayer money goes into making Election Day happen.

At least 355 election judges will staff the polling places at McLean County precincts, according to Carol Ash, chief deputy in the McLean County clerk's office.

Judges are paid $145 a day plus mileage. The state reimburses only $45 of the pay.

Bloomington Election Commission Executive Director Char Stanford has hired 220 election judges for Tuesday's election. They also receive $145.

Judges typically start at 5 a.m., an hour before the polls open. Polls close at 7 p.m.

There also are other election costs, including printing ballots, renting polling places and paying staff in the two offices.

The 2008 budget for Stanford's office is $517,205. The office handles elections for voters living within the Bloomington city limits. Stanford expects to return about $100,000 of that to the McLean County general fund.

Funding for Stanford's office comes from the county and is based on a state formula. It increases along with the total assessed valuation of property in the county.

There are 42,026 registered voters in the city of Bloomington.

Milton's office has budgeted about $641,000 for election-related expenses in 2008. She had recorded 54,011 registered voters at the end of grace period voting but expects that total to be about 56,000 when all registrations are put into the system. Milton is responsible for all voters within McLean County but outside the Bloomington city limits.