Clerk says Kane turnout could be record low

Voter turnout in Kane County for Tuesday's election was a paltry 12.4 percent, which is the lowest mark in at least 24 years for a nonpartisan, consolidated election, the county clerk said Tuesday night.

“The lowest before was 18 percent,” Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham said. “I didn't expect more than 20 (percent) this time. It's disappointing.”

Cunningham said 26,593 ballots were cast Tuesday and in early voting.

According to the clerk's website, turnout was 19.34 percent for the April 1987 election; the highest for a consolidated, local election was 34.41 percent in April 1989.

While turnout wasn't expected to be very high since it is a non-Presidential year, Cunningham said there were still plenty of items on the ballot that affect people, such as local school boards and a bid by the Kane County Forest Preserve District to spend $30 million on open space.

“People just didn't get excited for local races and they probably should,” Cunningham said. “The outcome of the race will affect taxes for a long time.”

If there was one positive byproduct of low turnout, it was a lack of calls to the Kane County State's Attorney's Election Hotline. As of late afternoon, only three complaints were made to the hotline and nothing serious was reported, officials said.

Katherine Schultz, McHenry County Clerk, said so far voter turnout in the county is on track with previous years.

“Right now we are at 15.57 percent with 33 precincts (of 212),” Schultz said Tuesday night. “Two years ago we ended just over 15 percent. It is comparable, but it depends on where the votes are coming from because some areas are heavier than others.”

Ÿ Staff writer Larissa Chinwah contributed to this report