Early ballots might not signal higher turnout in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) - The number of voters in Chicago who cast ballots before Tuesday's elections rose 23 percent from four years ago to just less than 90,000.

But that's not necessarily an indication that overall turnout will be higher.

Langdon Neal is chairman of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. He explains there's no way to tell whether the early voting increase means extra interest in the election.

Neal says it could also be that usual voters are changing the way they vote and deciding to cast early ballots.

During an election day update for reporters, Neal added that turnout in the first couple of hours was "very light."

The cold and wind might be keeping some away. The temperature was 8 degrees with a wind chill of 8 below when polls opened.