Even with the first competitive mayoral race in nearly 22 years and a record number of aldermanic candidates Chicago elections officials expect voter turnout to be just slightly over 50 percent.
CHICAGO (AP) — Even with the first competitive mayoral race in nearly 22 years and a record number of aldermanic candidates Chicago elections officials expect voter turnout to be just slightly over 50 percent.
That is not an exceptionally high number compared to past election. There was a 68 percent turnout when Mayor Richard M. Daley first won office in 1989.
Board of Elections Commissioners Langdon Neal says Tuesday’s expected turnout could be due to several factors including "voter fatigue." Statewide elections were just last November.
Neal also notes what has been called the "machine" has changed since 1989. The legions of city workers and subcontractors once active in get-out-the-vote efforts are missing this year.
According to Neal, 73,200 early votes were cast and about 18,000 absentee ballots returned so far.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.