Kane County Clerk gives election results update

Kane County Clerk John A. Cunningham provided an update about the preliminary results of the April 2 Consolidated Election.

A total of 31,248 ballots were cast in the Consolidated Election. The total number of ballots cast represented 9.84 percent of the 317,523 registered voters in Kane County. Turnout in the election was less than the last two consolidated elections: in April 2015, 31,494 ballots were cast, and in April 2017, 39,112 ballots were cast.

"Our office provided many opportunities for residents to vote," Cunningham said. "We had 32 early voting locations at traditional locations along with our two Votemobile mobile precincts, provided Vote by Mail options to all residents, and opened 291 precincts on Election Day.

"In that sense, we conducted a successful election. We encourage voters to vote using the method that is most convenient to them, but unfortunately, not many voters took advantage and came out to vote. Local elections like these have a major impact on property tax bills and provide voters the chance to make their voices heard."

Twenty-seven percent of votes were cast through Early Voting and Vote by Mail ballots, down from an average of approximately 50 percent in recent elections. Kane County's Voter Outreach Program, a partnership with local businesses and local governments to promote voter participation through the use of electronic signs encouraging Early Voting and voter registration, has led to the increased Early Voting turnout.

This year's Consolidated Election did not include races for township officers, which occur in the April election following a presidential General Election. Additionally, many municipalities did not have contests for mayor or village president in the April 2 election, and those that did, other than Elgin, had uncontested races. These contests usually bring more voters to the polls in the Consolidated Election.

Election results are available at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Election-Results-Archive.aspx. Results are unofficial until the canvass is conducted later this month. Vote by mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day will be counted on April 16.

Cunningham added, "This was the first Consolidated Election we conducted in the city of Aurora. We displayed election results from Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties for the public and media who awaited election results at our office so that they could track citywide results for Aurora races."

The next regularly scheduled election is the Primary Election on March 17, 2020 when Democratic Party and Republican Party voters will nominate candidates for President, U.S. Senate, Congress, state legislative offices, some countywide offices, half of the county board, and other offices and will elect Party offices such as delegate to the National Conventions and precinct committeeperson.

More information about elections can be found at kanecountyelections.org or by calling (630) 232-5990.

As the election authority for Kane County, the Clerk's Office provides many resources for those who wish to be informed about the elections process. Through the Voter Outreach Program, the VoteMobile, participation in community events, Facebook, website, and Twitter (@KaneCoILClerk), the Clerk's Office provides information and resources directly to Kane County residents.