Just got back from a loooonnnggg lunch at a popular steak joint, which is why there have been no postings for the past few hours.

I’m about to head out again, but I do plan to post throughout the evening. If you’re outside Chicago, you can hear me every half hour on the Illinois Radio Network. We’ll start at 7:15 pm and end at 11:45 pm. Check that link for a station near you.

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Lots of complaints have poured in from Champaign County, where University of Illinois students are complaining about not being able to use their student IDs to vote. More later.
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This just in fromSouthern Illinoisan political reporter Jim Muir:

I just got through visiting about a one-third of Franklin County’s 35 precincts and the numbers are way up every where. Most are reporting 70-75 percent turnout and some say they might go as high as 80 percent.

From what I’m told both sides are getting the vote out. Who that favors is unclear right now.

I also talked to people at Benton 5 precinct – the largest in Benton — late this afternoon and they told me that they have 1,600 registered voters and that 800 is usually looked at as a really good turnout. They are now projecting that they will vote 1,100. They said they have had people in to vote that have not been there in years.

Still, who the big turnout favors nobody seems to know right now.

Benton is Tier One targeted Sen. Gary Forby’s home town.

My brother Devin reports “extremely long lines” at SIU’s Carbondale campus at 1:30 this afternoon.

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From the ICPR’s blog:

Senator Pamela Althoff (R-32) reported $110K from RSSCC, and another $50K from Tom Les of Crystal Lake, whose only other reported contribution was $500 to Perry Moy earlier in October. Senator Gary Forby (D-59) got $61K from ISDF.

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You can check election results for state House races tonight at Tom Cross’ website

More later.