56 Comments - Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:01 am: Lockport 13. New polling place (the old folks’ home is nice!) Voted 6:35 or so. Number 18. Two observations: 1) they had NBC5 on in the voting room, which of course means campaign ads blaring. That can’t be right. 2) Dear State Representative McCasey: I vowed last time to never vote for you as long as you had people standing directly outside the door of my polling place asking for my vote. That hasn’t changed. The 100-yard electioneering line is being severely tested (even though the worker was nice enough). - S - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:14 am: I was putting up signs early this morning. About 5:30, a cabbie followed me from one polling location to another. He asked me if he was at the right place (he was). I, in turn, asked him if he was working the election today. He said no, he was just “dropping off the absentee ballots.” He had a list of polling locations in his right hand, with a few of them crossed off. I don’t recall anything like that from my days as an election judge, but it struck me as odd. I thought everything was supposed to be found inside the large blue box officials open the morning of election day to set up. Maybe things have changed, just seemed weird to me. I’m sure there’s some sort of logical explanation as well (I’m not big on conspiracy theories). Just sooooo odd. Other than that, all good! - Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:23 am: I was the second person to vote in my precinct at 6:00 this morning. Eight to ten middle-aged men behind me. That’s a pretty good turn out for a midterm. - Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:27 am: Coworker reports: “I’m usually the second or third person to vote (a rural precinct) and they were already in the double digits when I got there. - Anonymous Coward - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:31 am: Rural Montgomery County village - I was #1. 3 farmers in front of me still working on their ballots, small line forming when I walked out at 6:05. - WI IL Transplant - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:41 am: Voted at 7 am in NW side of Chicago. About 15 people while I was there, which was comparable to 2008. There was a line which surprised me. - 32nd Ward Roscoe Village - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:43 am: 7 a.m. on the north side of Chicago, no line, got right in, but when I left at 7:15 I was number 96 to insert ballot, but really that meant I was only number 48 since I had to insert two ballots, the second was for the recall constitutional amendment. There was a line of 10 people when I left which was heavy for a mid-term. Last night when walking the dog, I saw a traffic circle had three signs planted in it just that day: Lisa Madigan, Quinn and Claypool all together. - NRA associate - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:43 am: Same here WWDH….I am optomistic and hope that all will go well. A few friends up north are seeing some very distrubing things at the polls. But down here (rural) it is going to be a good turn out! - Downers Delight - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:57 am: At 7am in Clearing, I was #22. Two other people voting, nobody else in line. Three poll workers outside, one even nice enough to walk with me to the door. It should be a beautiful day for an election. - vibes - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 7:58 am: Chi 49th, #5 to vote at 601a. (10 on the ballot counter). 8 behind me. Not like the 30 or 40 for Obama, but more than normal and a buzz nonetheless. - How Ironic - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:04 am: I voted @ 7:30am in Springfield IL on the west side. I was #75 for the morning. I would guess heavier turnout than normal. - DRB - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:06 am: Springfield weather is very nice today. No reason for people to not spend a few minutes and vote. - Montrose - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:09 am: At 7:45 this morning, I was #36 at my Oak Park precinct. Steady flow of folks. A small line with all the booths filled. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:11 am: Oswego - “Village Hall” polling place … 31 voters, last off year election … 18 at 8am … higher turnout - wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:12 am: Supporters of Reformer Claypool were the only ones who felt the need to illegally plant signs in the village parkway at my Oak Park field house. Better get Tony Peraica on the case. Weather looks great. - DoubleDown - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:14 am: Peotone area - 7:15 there was a line formed behind me, I was number 48. Parking lot was full when I left - train111 - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:18 am: Winfield #1 (Western DuPage) I was #46 at a little after 7:00am. train111 - Concerned Observer - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:22 am: Claypool, Alexi, Robin Kelly and Durbin shaking hands outside Union Station downtown at the moment. For what that’s worth. - Jerad - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:23 am: Wonderful crisp day on the NW side of Chicago, 26th ward. About 5 people including myself at the polling place voting at 7:20 a.m. Pretty quiet overall. - Anon - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:30 am: I vote in Chatham (near Springfield. For what its worth in 2008 at 7:20am I was number 49 to vote in my precinct. I remember that because usually at that time I’m like in the teens. Today at 7:23am I was number 47. The wait in line was about the same as 2008 - 10 minutes. - Frank - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:32 am: 7:00 voted in the South Suburbs. One of the electronic voting machines already wasn’t working. Three election judges trying to figure it out. Nobody seemed to have a clue. I wasn’t surprised by any of it. - polisciguy - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:35 am: Palos Park 10. At 8:00am, there were already 48 paper ballots turned in. Four machines, each with someone casting their votes. - Vote Quimby! - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:42 am: Sunny skies surround this STL suburb in St. Clair County. I was #76 at 8:15…heavy turnout, possibly due to two locals battling for county board. Still an impressive turnout for a midterm… - Levois - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:46 am: After I voted 82 people had submitted ballots there were two volunteers at my polling place from the Alderman’s office. The weather had the sun peaking out but it was a bit nippy outside. Also had to navigate workers repaving a street. - Almost 60 - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:55 am: Voted at 8:30 am in Springfield precinct #37. There was actually a line, which is unusual for a mid-term in this precinct. It appeared to be getting longer when I left. - Sunny in Skokie - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:56 am: Very slow pace in Skokie. Puzzling coordination by the republicans. By 5:45 there were only Kirk signs, while all of the dem signs were out. Someone showed up at 8:00 and put out Pollack signs, and an able bodied couple parked in handicap spot at 8:30 and put out the rest of the republican signs. - Jake from Elwood - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 8:59 am: Based on my steadfast election morning routine, I believe that the turnout in my precinct will be double the primary turnout. I suppose that is typical but I do not study these things for a living. - Highland, IL - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:07 am: Normal off-year “crowd” at the two precincts where I vote. I was #25 at a little after 7AM this morning. - MrJM - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:11 am: I am not going to be able to blame the weather for the outcome of this race. That was my last, best hope. – MrJM - Foster Brooks - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:17 am: busiest i”ve seen it on election day, brady signs plastered all over outside the polling place. - Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:32 am: Had police chase off two of Madigan’s Minions who were handing out election materials on the steps of the polls. Not odd if I lived in Chicago, but I’m in DuPage County. At 8:00 AM, voters were already at 11.8% of eligible voters in that polling location. - Robert - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:34 am: north side of chicago, no line, only one sign near the polling place (a Berrios sign) and no one handing out lit…confused pollworkers taking ballots from people and inserting into machine rather than having voters do it until the republican committeman showed up and explained to folks how to do it (seemed like honest mistake, not corrupt behavior)…republican election judge took about 5 minutes to find my name and my wife’s name as his bifocals weren’t working right (his words). - 42nd Ward - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:37 am: At 8am all of the booths were full andt there were three people in front of me. When I left all of the booths were full and the line was pretty long. Seemed to be a pretty good turnout. - Team America - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:41 am: I spent three hours this morning at the polling place at Lambs Farm in Lake County holding a Kirk-Dold-Sugrue sign. Generally very positive reactions from people going in to vote. Made friends with a nice young lady who is a Carol Sente legislative aide (she got the day off and was paid to hand out literature) but she had difficulty getting anyone to take a flyer. The flyer itself had just Carol Sente’s name and Lisa Madigan’s name on it - nothing about positions, etc. There was a line at 6:00. No Dems are standing in a line to vote in this election on a dark, chilly morning. In fact, if you don’t live in Chicago and aren’t getting dragged kicking and screaming to the polls (or being otherwise ‘encourged’ by those precinct captains) I wonder how many Dems are going to show at all. - Matt G - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:46 am: In the City, 44th Ward, 50th/13th precinct (shared polling place), at 7:15 am there were only a handful of voters present. I was voter 62 in the 50th. There were no workers outside for either party. The election judges and voters were continuing to have trouble with the one touch-screen voting machine (all the others were paper fill-in-the-dash booths). The City Board of Elections really should reconsider the vendor they’ve chosen. These are the least intuitive machines I could imagine - there is not even a “cast my vote” button to touch! I am computer savy and cannot figure these out - imagine what someone uncomfortable with computers would feel! - heet101 - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:50 am: Rampant rumors of voter intimidation and electioneering at polling places in Macoupin County. Democrat poll watchers have been caught showing people what spot to mark on the ballot. In Staunton and Gillespie, the Dems are giving out free flu shots to medicaid and medicare patients. - Bluefish - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 9:53 am: Voted at 7:45 in DuPage County and was #79. Several other people voting at the same time. Seems to be a bit up from 4 years ago. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:03 am: Haven’t voted yet myself, but the polling place across the street from my home on Springfield’s west side has been steadily busy all morning. It appears to be much higher turnout than the primary, and many Republican yard signs. - Heartless Libertarian - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:06 am: Voted at 9:45, was #331 in my precinct. Local democrats outside electioneering. Waited for about 10 minutes in line. Voted… but there was a problem… on the protector they give you so nobody can see who you voted for, it was about an inch too short…. So, if you voted for Bill Brady or Dan Rutherford, it was clearly visible when you showed the man at the machine the initials of the election judge. Oy… kind of off-putting…. - Nuance - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:08 am: South side of Springfield at 6:05am. 10 voting booths full and I was waiting third in line for a booth. Never had to wait before. Not sure how many had already voted. - Retired State Employee - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:08 am: Steady stream of voters in Gardner Township in Sangamon County. - MrJM - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:09 am: @heet101 - If that’s true, call the coppers immediately. Otherwise… – MrJM - Anonymous ZZZ - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:14 am: Voted on the north side of Chicago, precinct 5, Ward 44. I asked the judges how turnout was, and all they told me was that I was #97, which didn’t really answer my question. All in all, very uneventful. Nothing shady or suspicious going on that I could see. - soccermom - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:20 am: In my Oak Park precinct, a short line at 7:45. The electronic machines were hiccuping, so I used a paper ballot. Old school! - Volunteer - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:24 am: Thornton Township: steady stream of voters. Heavy early voting. - Former Bartender - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:25 am: North side Chicago, 44th Ward precinct 21. 8:15am all polling spots were taken with a 3-4 person line. No line out the door that 2008 was. Was told I was the 74th person to vote. No one outside the polling spot but Robin Kelly had flyers being passed out at the CTA stop down the street. - Mike Ins - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:25 am: Mell’s polling location on NW Side… at 915 am this morning was number 72. No line but all 5 “booths” (that is being generous to the concept of a booth) were occupied. Judges said turnout was good and were sharing their coffee and donuts. Nice folks but not sure if they really had any idea turnout vs the last midterm. Weather could not be better. Democrat lit being handed out in front as per usual. For what it is worth Berrios sure won the contest to have more signs in the neighborhood… - DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:29 am: About 25 people voting at 7:30 this morning in my town here in DuPage. Folks in a good mood. No weird looking poll watchers like in some past years. None of the election staff were demanding photo IDs, like they did two years ago. On another noter: We use the paper ballot which is counted electronically, just like the multiple choice tests back in college. This is the ideal way to go– fast counting of the votes but a clear permanent record of the votes. No black box voting here, thank goodness. - Mike Ins - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:32 am: …sorry, would help to add that I was 72 of about 600 total voters that could come out at my spot. And paper ballot is old school? Wow we must be poor folk here in the city, ha, it has always been paper! - Monstrum - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:40 am: Expected to be a beautiful fall day in Chicago. Polling place by an El stop had little orange cones “no electioneering beyond this point” placed all of about 10 feet from the door of polling place. Which is a bar. Lots of signs, of course, and one guy collecting signatures for he-who-shall-not-be-named for mayor. - NW Suburbs - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:42 am: Voted at 10:30a. I was voter 100 out of 700 registered. No state legislative races here. - Cynic Al - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:48 am: Voted today in the West Loop @ 9:30am. Not crowded, but not busy either. I’ve never felt less excited when casting my ballot. - Anon - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:49 am: Maybe we should put legalized marijuana on the ballot to get the Dems to the polls. - Pot Watcher - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:53 am: Better watch Cali. Prop 19 (legal pot for all) probably goes down today. If Boxer or Brown lose, the marijuana-on-the-ballot-drives-out-dems argument goes down with them. - illinois democrat - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:54 am: Heavier than normal in south central Illinois. County clerk said early and absentee was high too. Dudley and Mccarter race may be getting people out today. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:00 am: Let’s close this one out and move the conversation to a fresh post. Thanks. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.