Voters close to approving merger of Cook County recorder, clerk offices

Cook County Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarbrough, who was in an uncontested race, likely will serve her final term after voters Tuesday were close to approving the merger of her office into the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Unofficial results showed 1,123,146 voting for and 654,322 against the plan with 3,521 of a combined 3,668 precincts reporting, according to the Board of Elections and the Cook County Clerk's Office. The merger would streamline operations, save money and cut red tape. It could be completed by 2020.

"Cook County voters were given a rare opportunity to shrink the size of their government and unsurprisingly, they seized upon it," said 12th District County Commissioner John Fritchey, who proposed the measure. "While more work remains to be done, this is a significant step in reforming Cook County government."