3,500+ ballots cast in last day of Early Voting 

38% of all early voting occurred in final four days

March 31, 2011

Early Voting ended today with robust turnout as 3,550 suburban Cook County voters cast ballots, Cook County Clerk David Orr announced Thursday. More than 10,000 voters participated since Monday, or 38 percent of nearly 27,000  ballots cast since Early Voting began March 14.

"Judging by Early Voting turnout, it's clear there are some hot races in this election," Orr said. "The areas with the heaviest turnout were clearly those with a contested race, such as Chicago Heights, or those with a tax increase referendum, such as Wilmette and Lemont."

The unofficial Early Voting turnout below shows turnout by busiest locations.

* This total is unofficial as of 5 p.m. on March 31.

While Early Voters can cast ballots at any of the 43 locations, historically most vote close to home. The map, "Early Voting Turnout by Voters' Home Precinct," illustrates this trend.

Early Voting participation is up slightly over the last Consolidated Election in 2009, when 25,737 people voted early. In the 2007 local elections, 8,023 early voting ballots were cast. The attached file provides Early Voting turnout history by location for the 2007 and 2009 local elections. Please note: Early Voting locations can change election to election.

Contact: Courtney Greve, 312.603.0931, 312.502.3267 or courtney.greve@cookcountyil.gov.