An all-time high suburban Cook voter registration of 1,436,106 set the stage for 226,084 voters to cast ballots during Early Voting from Oct. 13-30. Another 4,100 suburban residents participated in grace period voting and about 31,600 requested absentee ballots.

“While some have bemoaned voter apathy in the past, it’s not a problem this election,” Orr said. “Crowds are a sign of a healthy democracy. And I must commend the voters for their patience and enthusiasm, and applaud the Equipment Managers for their excellent service.”

On Tuesday, suburban Cook’s 2,290 precincts will be staffed by more than 11,500 election judges and Equipment Managers, including more than 2,200 high school and college students – another new record.

Orr offered these Election Day tips and reminders:

• Voters will have a choice of voting on a touch screen or with a paper ballot.

• Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Polling places are least crowded from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Anyone in line when polls close at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

• The Clerk’s office has voter hotlines in three languages (Spanish, Polish and Chinese), as well as a TDD line for the hearing impaired and a legal line to report fraud and irregularities.

• At voterinfonet.com, voters can verify their registration and view a sample ballot.

Labels: early voting, elections

- posted by Cynthia @ 4:31 PM | | | Link |