Illinois Primary Voters Take to the Polls

[Donkees]

Voters across Illinois will cast their ballots Tuesday in what's expected to be a fight to the finish for some candidates - both presidential and local.

Voter turnout is expected to be high in Illinois, as residents choose who they want to be the Republican and Democratic nominees for president, senator, comptroller, congressional district races, state representatives and state senators.

This is the first presidential primary election where recent changes to state law will be in effect.

Voters who have not registered to vote in the primary can register and vote at their home precinct only Tuesday. They need to bring with them two forms of identification, including one with a current address.

Teens who will be 18 by the time of the November election are also eligible to vote Tuesday.

Early voting numbers were huge in Chicago and suburban Cook County, compared to earlier primary elections. In Chicago, more than 140,000 votes had been cast by Monday night. That's nearly 60,000 more votes compared to the primary in 2008. Cook County Clerk David Orr said more than 1.4 million suburban residents are registered to vote, which is a record.

Chicago Board of Elections Chairperson Marisel Hernandez said turnout for the 2015 mayoral election was 41 percent. She is hopeful Tuesday will top that.

"I'm extremely hopeful that things will work out very well, very smoothly, and that we will have a great turnout. I really, really would love a great turnout," Hernandez said.

The polls in Illinois will be open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is encouraging voters to call a special hotline number if they have any problems at the polls: 866-536-3496.

http://abc7chicago.com/politics/illinois-primary-voters-take-to-polls/1246083/

[mucifer]

1. They really do want everyone to vote

We are not republicans here.

[Funtatlaguy]

2. If Cook County is heavily Latino and African American

This is good news for Hillary.
If heavily white, it's good for Bernie.
I don't know the demographics there.

[Jbradshaw120]

4. I'm not from Illinois

But I do believe cook county is where chicago is.

[mucifer]

5. Most of cook county is Chicago

Lots of people of color are now for Bernie because rahm endorsed Hillary. Chicago is roughly a third white a third Black and a third Hispanic.

Friday's trump rally really seems to have energized Bernie support here in Chicago and most of the people protesting at the rally were people of color. So it should be interesting.

[Punkingal]

8. They said on CNN yesterday that Hispanics in Chicago were heavily favoring Bernie.

[Major Hogwash]

3. Great news.

I can't believe they're actually letting some 17-year olds vote.
This is great.

[mucifer]

6. David Orr is an awesome liberal and a Bernie supporter.

He is popular and elections are his job.

[Funtatlaguy]

7. They should be able to pick a nominee

If they will be 18 before the General in November.

[bernbabe]

9. Early voting makes me nervous

Early voters may not have felt the Bern yet.

[ruralsteve]

10. My wife and I voted for Bernie ...

... in the first hour the polls were open in Cuba, Illinois.

[surrealAmerican]

11. Welcome to DU.

How was the turnout?

[Bjornsdotter]

12. I was at two polling places today

....mine and my sister's. Both were busy, however we live in McHenry County and it is mostly Republican. When you ask for a Democratic ballot everyone stops and stares at you.