The April 5th election featured more than 2,100 candidates, 700 contests and 26 referenda. Unofficial election results were quickly reported; 95 percent of precincts were counted by 9 p.m.
The Clerk's office completed its canvass and verified provisional ballots last week. Tuesday was the last day absentee ballots could be counted -- and two arrived in the mail with a proper postmark of April 4. You can see the final results online. The online results include votes cast for write-in candidates.
Here are some highlights from the election:
- While overall turnout was just under 17 percent, areas with contested races or referenda saw far greater participation. For example, turnout was: 45.7 percent in Wilmette, 43.7 percent in Barrington Hills, 39.3 percent in Lemont and 37.7 percent in Chicago Heights;
- On the low end, turnout was less than 7 percent in Hillside, Merrionette Park and Northbrook;
- Write-in candidate Joshua Tate won a Blue Island Park District seat against an incumbent who died shortly before Election Day;
- New suburban mayors/village presidents will take the helm next month in Buffalo Grove, Chicago Heights, Countryside, Elgin, Prospect Heights and Rolling Meadows;
- Just one vote made Anthony J. Davis the winner for Alderman in Country Club Hill's 5th Ward (240 votes to Ralph Jenkins' 239);
- Tax-hike proposals were approved in three of the eight school districts with referenda: Wilmette School District 39, Oak Park School District 97 and Homewood School District 153.
Voter registration is now open for the next election, the March 20, 2012 Presidential Primary.