Cook County sees 69% increase in early voting

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.

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Online

Cook County Clerk's Postelection Report: http://bit.ly/1wQ5KMU