Early voting shatters records, long lines expected come Election Day

At least 773,089 voters cast their ballots through early voting this year in the Chicago region, meaning more than 16 percent of eligible voters have already logged their choices at the polls.

Long lines marked the final days of early voting, which lasted from Oct. 13 to Thursday, and election officials expect that pattern to continue come Tuesday. This is the first presidential election to feature early voting provisions in Illinois, but the turnout has more than quadrupled in areas since the presidential primary.

"This is something that I've never seen," said Cook County Clerk David Orr, who noted more than 226,084 people had voted early.

The regionwide tally includes Chicago and the South suburbs and it comes in a year of record registration numbers across the state.

More than 4.6 million residents are registered to vote in Chicago and the five Collar Counties.

The record turnout is attributed to the fierce presidential campaign, local enthusiasm for Chicago Democrat Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, numerous hot local races and general concern in the public regarding the economy and the Iraq war.

"I don't think there's any way of denying the Obama effect," Orr said.

The highest turnout for early voting in the suburbs came in Kane County where 24 percent of voters have already cast their ballots. The county is the site of contentious local referendums as well as an intense congressional race between greenhorn U.S. Rep. Bill Foster and Republican challenger Jim Oberweis.

Lake County follows with 21 percent of registered voters casting early ballots. The county is the site of a nationally watched congressional race in the 10th District between U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk and Democratic challenger Dan Seals.

Election officials are now turning to the final day of voting on Tuesday and they are concerned about an expected record turnout creating long lines that may deter some voters.

"I really believe people are going to wait a considerable amount of time on Election Day morning," said Bob Saar, director of the DuPage County Election Commission, which reported 96,029 early voters.

Voters are encouraged to hit the polls in midmorning and the afternoon to avoid the worst peaks on Election Day.

Daily Herald staff writer Rob Olmstead contributed to this report.

Early birds

Here's a breakdown of early voting results for the Chicago area.

Chicago

Early votes: 260,703

Registered: 1.49 million

Suburban Cook County

Early votes: 226,090

Registered: 1.4 million

DuPage County

Early votes: 96,029

Registered: 551,000

Lake County

Early votes: 83,839

Registered: 405,000

Kane County

Early votes: 51,856

Registered: 214,000