Early voting doesn't promise larger turnout

Cook County Clerk David Orr said early voting and no-excuse absentee ballots have proved more popular than ever, even as he expects turnout in Tuesday's election to remain steady at about 50 percent of eligible voters.

Orr, who oversees the election in suburban Cook County, said early voting that ended Thursday was to produce about 80,000 ballots, more than double the 33,000 who voted early in the last governor election in 2006. Likewise, requests for absentee ballots, which now can be obtained without having to claim any sort of hardship, had doubled from 16,000 to 32,000.

Early voting was strongest in Orland Park, Wheeling, Northbrook and Wilmette. Absentee ballots were heaviest in pockets of Barrington, Rich and Northfield townships.

Orr said the absentee ballots need to be postmarked by Monday and received by Nov. 16 to count. He said those who requested the ballots and do not receive them by Monday should make their way to the polls on Tuesday, but that thus far the system had functioned smoothly.

Orr, however, didn't think those increased early ballots were an indication of a higher turnout overall. “Unfortunately, no matter what we do, it seems to hover around that 50 percent,” he said.

“I think the misuse of money in our system is destroying our democracy, and I'm serious about that,” he added, citing the impact of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down limits on campaign funding, which has led to a torrent of attack ads from unidentified groups. “The negative ads have a tremendous influence in discouraging people to participate.”

He said that might be a cause for the increased early voting, so that citizens can then resolve to tune out the ads.

Orr, who made the statements in a joint news conference with Chicago Board of Election Commission Chairman Langdon Neal, reminded voters that polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and that anyone in line when polls close will be allowed to vote. The legal hotline for the Cook suburbs is (312) 603-0236, and voters can verify their registration beforehand and confirm their polling place online at cookcountyclerk.com.

Orr also pointed out that suburban Cook has been won by the victorious governor candidate every year since 1990.

“We're looking forward to a very busy and very successful Election Day regardless of who wins,” he said.