Report analyzes Nov. 4 election in Cook County

CHICAGO - Cook County Clerk David Orr's review of the Nov. 4 election shows a 69 percent increase in early voting and increased younger-voter participation.

The postelection report was released Thursday.

Orr says first-time measures such as same-day registration and longer hours for early voting proved successful in the parts of Cook County outside Chicago.

The report shows turnout was 49.8 percent - down from the 2010 election for governor - but about the same as most similar elections of the past 20 years.

Early and grace-period voting grew to 26 percent this year, up from 15 percent four years ago.

Mail ballots totaled over 51,000 - exceeding the number of mailed ballots for all previous elections in suburban Cook County.