DuPage early voting busy despite holiday confusion
Despite some confusion about the start of early voting coinciding with Columbus Day, reports indicate most of DuPage County's 15 polling sites kept pretty busy Monday.
DuPage Election Commission Assistant Executive Director Doreen Nelson said 111 voters cast ballots at the Naperville polling site at the city's municipal center during the first two hours of operation.
Some voters had expressed confusion whether early polling sites would be open to voters since most public buildings were otherwise closed because of the holiday.
The election commission decided to start early voting Monday because Chicago was doing so. Commissioners also believed the holiday gave more voters a chance to cast a ballot since they were off work, Nelson said.
That's why Donna Johnson showed up Monday to vote at Wheaton's polling place at the county administration building along County Farm Road.
"I know I'm going to be in Colorado on election day," she said. "Besides, I have other responsibilities any other day."
Nelson said the commission is hoping for a 10 percent turnout during the early voting period that ends Thursday, Oct. 30. This is the first time early voting has been allowed in Illinois for a presidential election, so officials don't know what to expect.
Commission leaders aren't making any prognostications about overall turnout, but are anticipating high numbers.
One of the arguments against early voting is that something can happen in the days leading up to an election that may sway voters. In fact, there's still one presidential debate on tap before the election.
Naperville's Ayana Bean, however, doesn't think anything is going to change her mind.
"The only way that would happen is if they put their foot in their mouth big time," she said. "And even then, I'm not sure it would make that big a difference."
If it weren't for early voting, Wheaton resident Tom Kosmach might not have been able to cast a ballot at all.
"I'm going back to school in Peoria Tuesday and I won't be back until Thanksgiving," he said. "I voted for who I wanted to, but there were some races where I didn't know who they were."
There are nearly 550,000 registered voters in the county. During the February primary, only 4 percent of registered voters cast ballots early, according to commission figures.
The 15 early voting sites are spread throughout the county and are open at varying times. Nelson said voters should check the "Early Voting" tab at the commission's Web site, dupageelections.com, to find locations and hours of operations.
All of the polling sites are open Monday through Friday and many have Saturday hours as well, but only four have Sunday hours.
Vote early
Here's a list of the 15 early voting locations in DuPage County. For hours of operation, check dupageelections.com.
Addison: Addison Township Offices, 401 N. Addison Road
Bartlett: Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road
Bloomingdale: Stratford Square Mall, 152 Stratford Square
Bloomingdale: Bloomingdale Township Offices, 123 N. Rosedale Road
Burr Ridge: Five Seasons Sports & Country Club, 6901 S. Madison St.
Downers Grove: Downers Grove Village Hall, 801 Burlington Ave.
Elmhurst: Elmhurst City Hall, 209 N. York St.
Glen Ellyn: Glen Ellyn Civic Center, 535 Duane St.
Lisle: Lisle Village Hall, 925 Burlington Ave.
Lombard: Yorktown Center Mall, Highland Avenue & Butterfield Road
Naperville: Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.
Oak Brook: Butler Government Center, 1200 Oak Brook Road
West Chicago: Wayne Township Offices, 27W031 North Ave.
West Chicago: Winfield Township Offices, 130 Arbor Ave.
Wheaton: DuPage County Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road