Few problems at polls so far; healthy turnout expected

Suburban election officials are reporting few problems at the polls early today, but are bracing for tough weather conditions that could delay voters and results later tonight.

A handful of people slipped and fell on black ice at some polling places in Lake County, said Clerk Willard Helander.

"We've contacted people to get those sidewalks cleared of snow and ice," Helander said. "But people need be very cautious."

Suburban Cook County could see a record 40 percent of registered voters today, which would break the 1992 turnout record, said Gale Siegle, a spokesman for Cook County Clerk David Orr's office.

More Coverage Daily Herald Election Guide Complete coverage of the primary election Voting questions Cook County [2/05/08] DuPage County [2/05/08] Kane/McHenry counties [2/05/08] Lake County [2/05/08] Stories What about dropout candidates? [2/05/08] Presidential candidates kick it up in final stretch [2/05/08]

"I don't know if it's because of the candidates, the economy or the war, but we're seeing lots of enthusiasm out there today," she said.

Generally about a quarter of all registered voters have cast ballots in recent presidential primaries.

Two Cook County polling places saw problems early today -- one at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn after an election judge showed up late and another at Hatch School in Oak Park which opened late because the school, for security reasons, had locked a door that kept out voters.

Both polling places will be open until 8 p.m. tonight, Siegle said.

Some voters waited in line for the polls to open before 6 a.m. this morning in McHenry County, said Clerk Kathy Schultz.

"We've been very busy but everything opened on time," she said.

Up to 35 percent of registered voters are expected to cast primary ballots in Kane County, according to Donna Morrison, a spokesman for the Kane County Clerk's office.

"We're not seeing anything out of the ordinary so far," she said. "We are keeping an eye on the weather reports. Nothing has started to fall yet."

Rain is set to sweep into the Chicago region by about 1 p.m. and then turn into sleet or snow by 6 p.m., a time voters usually swarm the polls before the 7 p.m. closing.

But it is after the polls close that the more brutal weather will hit, with winds picking up and temperatures dipping below freezing. The Chicago area is expected to receive between 2 and 4 inches of snow overnight, with the higher levels falling toward the north.

"Snow could be very heavy at times with areas of blowing snow after midnight," said Bill Wilson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Some election officials say they are worried heavy snow after polls close could delay vote tallies.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan sent out 179 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators to monitor the election today. The teams will observe activity around polling places and investigate claims of voter fraud.

bull; Daily Herald Staff Writer Joseph Ryan contributed to this story.