ST. JOHN | Voters here may not be going to the polls in May's primary election.

The election is uncontested, so there is no point in spending the money, town officials say.

Communities that have uncontested races can request to cancel their primaries. Munster, Whiting and Winfield are in the same position, said Lake County election board Director Sally LaSota.

Uncontested primaries happen every so often, LaSota said.

The Lake County election board contacted St. John and indicated that because the town doesn't have any contested races, it could ask to cancel the May 8 election, said St. John Town Manager Steve Kil.

"I submitted a letter indicating the town would have no objection to not holding a primary," he said. "If you have no contested races, then why spend the money? There's no choices on the ballot."

Ultimately, the decision lies in the hands of the election board. The board will vote on it, but it's more of a formality, LaSota said.

Canceling the election would save some tax dollars, she said.

Munster canceled its primary and will save thousands of dollars because of it, said Clerk-Treasurer David Shafer.

Kil estimated that St. John will save between $6,000 and $7,000 by not holding the election for the May 8 primary.

Last year's election cost St. John about $20,000, he said.

The costs add up.

People work the polls, and mechanics have to be ready to address any malfunctions or repairs, Kil said.

"There's a lot to it," he said.

Canceling the uncontested election makes sense, said St. John Town Council President Michael Fryzel.

"Why spend the money if you don't have to?" he said.

Normally on election day, the town staff takes the day off as a floating holiday because people need to use public buildings for voting.

There's no need for employees to take that day off if the election is uncontested, Fryzel said.

This year, four Town Council seats and the clerk-treasurer's seat are up for election in St. John.

Democrat Sherry Sury, incumbent clerk-treasurer, has filed for re-election.

Ron Zochalski has filed to run as a Democrat for the Ward 2 council seat. Tom Busch has filed to run as a Republican for the Ward 2 council seat.

Republicans Mike Forbes and Joseph Hero filed for the two at-large council seats.

No Republicans or Democrats filed for the Ward 1 council seat.

Fryzel is the Ward 1 incumbent councilman; Jerri Teibel holds the Ward 2 seat; and Mark Barenie and Chuck Pearson hold the at-large seats on the Town Council. Fryzel, Teibel, Barenie and Pearson are members of the Citizens Party. They have until July to file for re-election.