Our election coverage revealed alarmingly low
voter turnout, even at precincts with tight races for state
legislature. Early reports confirmed these precinct observations –
“Record low voter turnout in Chicago,” declared a Washington Post headline Tuesday night.
But, according to statistics from the Chicago Board of Elections and Cook County Clerk,
voter turnout was where one would expect in a primary that
lacked a competitive Democratic presidential, gubernatorial, or U.S.
Senate contest. If anything, turnout was a bit more discouraging downstate where, percentage wise, more voters partook in a competitive Republican presidential primary.
