Primary registration figure highest ever 

Suburban Cook reports record registration total
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, February 26, 2004

A record number of suburban Cook County residents are eligible to cast ballots in the March 16 presidential primary election, according to figures released today by Cook County Clerk David Orr’s office.

As of the February 17 registration deadline, 1,297,006 residents in suburban Cook County were registered to vote in the primary, the highest number of eligible voters prior to a presidential primary. That figure compares to 1,221,254 in March 2000 and 1,215,588 in March 1996 (see below).

"Increases in registration have occurred in nearly all 30 suburban townships from four years ago," Orr said. "Individuals have more ways to sign up to vote as a result of the motor voter law, which allows people to print applications from the Internet and register at drivers license facilities."

Based on U.S. Census figures for Chicago and suburban Cook County, Orr estimated that 2.5 million of the approximately 3.4 million eligible, voting-age citizens in Cook County (Chicago and suburbs) are now registered to vote.

The highest percentage of new registrations since 1992 is reflected in townships – primarily in the northwest and southwest portions of the county – that have experienced new growth and development: specifically, Lemont (up 94 percent), Orland (up 74 percent), Hanover (up 55 percent), Rich (up 35 percent), Barrington (up 24 percent), and Palatine (up 20 percent).

Orr noted the increase in registrations comes even after the Clerk’s office conducted a voter canvass last fall that resulted in inactivating the registrations of more than 100,000 voters in suburban Cook, most of whom had either moved or died.

"My office takes particular pride in keeping clean voting lists, which is the best way to guard against vote fraud," Orr added.

COOK COUNTY REGISTRATION FIGURES
Presidential Primary Comparisons