Early afternoon precinct reports
Tuesday, Mar 17, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Hannah Meisel…
12th House
Though there had already been tension in the 12th District as newcomers began lining up in the summer to fight longtime House member Sara Feigenholtz, after former Senate President John Cullerton announced he was planning on retiring in November, even more Democrats got into the race to replace Feigenholtz, who almost immediately announced her intention to seek Cullerton’s empty Senate seat. […]
The campaigns got heated over the weekend over protections for Coronavirus, with Pizer’s campaign throwing arrows accusing Croke’s campaign of putting lives at risk for still engaging in limited in-person get-out-the-vote activity at early voting locations.
Tensions also bubbled on Monday when Pizer’s campaign accused Croke’s campaign of covering up signs that included a message regarding why the campaign was not engaging in in-person canvassing during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Croke spokesman Hugo Jacobo said Pizer’s campaign “ha[d] no proof” it was done by a Croke campaign member.
“No one on our team did that or would do that,” Jacobo said. “100 percent of our efforts are on communicating with voters.”
At least they weren’t actually stealing the signs. /s
* Latest updates…
* Sun-Times: City elections board spars with governor’s office over decision not to postpone primary
* SJ-R: ‘Interest is starting to grow’
* Tribune: DuPage Co. restocking polling places with hand sanitizer, other supplies as votes trickle in
* NBC 5: DuPage County Clerk announces that more than 9,800 votes had been cast as of 8 a.m. No additional polling places were closed in the county Tuesday, but 17 closures were previously announced, all of which were relocated to the DuPage County Fairgrounds.
* Daily Herald: Seven Lake County polling places to change due to pandemic
* What’s going on in your neck of the woods? Make sure to tell us where you’re at. And, please, don’t engage in policy and campaign debates. We have other threads for that. People read these threads to get an idea about what’s going on. So, enlighten us. Thank you kindly.
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- Ok - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:09 pm:
If either Margaret or Yoni had gone through the streets of Wrigleyville last weekend, Blues Brothers style, with a giant loudspeaker on top of the car telling people to leave the bars, they would have gone down in Chicago history as the greatest politician to have ever campaigned.
- I-74 - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:13 pm:
141st vote at 11:45 in my Moline precinct. No line, sharpies and ballots ready to go. Hand sanitizer on the way in and the way out. Quick process.
- JSI - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:18 pm:
In downstate Johnson County, numbers are surpassing 2018 primary but not 2016 Presidential Primary levels which could be expected. No real concerns of Coronavirus here it seems, just angry at the inconvenience. Hot Circuit Judge race is pushing voters as well.
- A Guy - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:18 pm:
Drove past and visited 8 polling places in DuPage. Slow, but steady stream. Oddly, people of all ages during even the mid-day. It’s lower according to the judges I’ve talked to, but not empty during any part of the day yet. They are hyper conscious with the sanitizer. I didn’t witness any shortage of judges at any of the places.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
Just voted - Hyde Park’s 5th Ward. Our polling place serves two precincts. No lines, but a fair number of voters, and one of the judges said that it had been pretty steady throughout the day.
The judges skewed a lot younger than usual, so I’m guessing there were some late replacements.
No touch screens, just the paper ballots, and the judge thoroughly wiped the marker before handing it to me.
- Seriously? - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:32 pm:
In Chicago, very limited cleaning supplies at my three-precinct polling place, no workers taking even the most basic precautions.
- Professor - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:35 pm:
Here in Springfield things seem well. The polling workers were great - offering sanitizes solutions as we entered and assuring that the pens were clean. I wore gloves and used my own pen. A steady stream of voters. Outside of the precautions everything was normal. Good job.
- Publius - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:40 pm:
Good reason to vote by mail in November if we have elections in November
Early vote and vote by mail big in Sangamon county compared to 2016 but it was newer
- SWIL_Voter - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:41 pm:
My precinct’s 38th voter, an elderly man, yelled at me for the dangerous reckless irresponsibility of dragging him out and endangering his and everybody else’s life
- JP Altgeld - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:48 pm:
@OK
The bullhorns needed for such a feat have been quarantined in Lake Wazzapamani.
- Left of the Lake - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:51 pm:
11am up here in Central Lake County Polling Place was very quick and smooth. Staff was event disinfecting pens and booths after people voted.
- peter - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 12:56 pm:
33rd Ward, 3rd precinct: as pleasant a voting experience as I’ve ever had at the First Vietnamese United Methodist Church. Seriously, plenty of judges who knew what they were doing, were in good spirits and practicing safe behavior. Steady stream of voters, and people generally seemed more out going and friendlier than normal.
Despite what I am sure are a lot of headaches city wide, my home precinct handled this in stride.
- Patrick FitzMichael - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
Croke has people waving signs around like they’re promoting a mattress close out event. No physical sign of Yoni or his signs in Lincoln Park. Saw a couple Garfield signs tho.
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:04 pm:
Voted around noon in Middleport Iroquois County. No social distancing, no hand sanitizer. There were other voters there besides us but I think they were up to 51 voters total.
- phenom_Anon - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:05 pm:
Rural Sangamon County, when I voted, numbers seemed typical to a little high for a primary.
I’m not seeing low turnout here, but I don’t think rural areas are as worried about getting sick.
- Eamon Evanston - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:06 pm:
Evanston—all polling places opened; most with 2 or more judges. We had only one precinct without any judges at opening; but scrambled and one of the candidates volunteers agreed to get sworn in and opened the precinct by 7am. Not crowded but steady stream of voters. Election judges deserve a medal. Clerk staff been flexible and helpful.
- Snowman1961 - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:13 pm:
Retired recently so was able to go vote late morning rather than before or after work. Plenty of help at Grant Township/Fox Lake and they were in good spirits. Was only one voting when I arrived but as I left there were about 10 people in line. Sorry, forgot to look at what the count was. Not much competition but there was a school tax vote on ballot.
- MyCarona - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:14 pm:
Lakeview Precinct - Slow start to the morning, but turnout has picked up through the late morning/early afternoon. Some canvassers outside, but I didn’t see who they were passing for.
- In the Sticks - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:19 pm:
Voted late morning, southwest Springfield precinct (2 at my location). Fully staffed by judges with plenty of hand sanitizer. Voter 134
- Stagman - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:20 pm:
40th person to vote at my precinct in Granite City. Three judges instead of the usual give but there was no problem getting my ballot.
- Fav human - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:23 pm:
I went to my normal voting place in McHenry county. I asked them about what they had seen and they said it was about 50% of normal for this time of year.
- Thornton Twp - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:30 pm:
Out in Thornton Township, the polls are missing the commonly seen yellow palm cards of the “Z Team” who stayed home today and do not appear to be circulating literature at any Thornton Township polling places.
- lakeside - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:34 pm:
35th ward in Chicago. We’re a little down, at 109 right now, usually do about 200-300 total for a primary. So I don’t think we’ll be too far off, unless the mini-rushes we’ve had are it (i.e. there is no traditional post work crowd)
- Dave Dahl - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:42 pm:
==Blues Brothers style, with a giant loudspeaker on top of the car==
You! On the bike!
- DownSouth - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
Randolph County - small rural community. Sanitizing being done appropriately. Social distancing being practiced well. Not many coming or going from polling place; however not unusual for this location. Judges upbeat, friendly. Over all mood good. Reported no more starting glitches than usual. Judges further reported that initial turn out was very small and slow but has gradually picked up throughout the day and is only slightly below average in comparison to other years. All in all not a bad experience. I have never not voted, and I couldn’t bring myself to not vote today.
- JK - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:46 pm:
Small town just west of the loop; 100 at 11 with about 20 in line - higher than usual. Two instead of three/four judges..cheerful, efficient and brought them disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.
- Been There - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:47 pm:
19th ward in Chicago, Beverly. 74 votes by 1:00. Probably way lower than normal but I know a lot of people who voted early or by mail. I guessing final turnout will still be good because of a hot subcircuit race with 7 candidates with 6 of them from Beverly.
They had hand sanitizer. My spouse noted it was Uline brand so they are still making money.
Our polling place was in a store front next door to a Mr Sub that has the drivethru in front and a line of cars. One of judges had ordered lunch ahead of time but he was asking cars in line if he can just back up his car and jump in the line because he couldn’t get their food.
- Just Another Anon - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 1:49 pm:
JP Altgeld
I hear business is tough up at the Palace Hotel Ballroom up there. They had to cancel a reception for all of the representatives of the Illinois Law enforcement community.
- Fishingvest - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:01 pm:
In DuPage County, Bartlett Community Center hosts several precints, they opened on time and everything was going smoothly. It was not very busy and turnout was down. It was not the mess that I expected even though they were short a few judges.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:05 pm:
As of about NOON:
ALL these numbers are new and updated.
68,428 voters so far today in suburban Cook.
52% Women
48% Men
By hour:
6-7am: 5,910
7-8am: 8,465
8-9am: 10,019
9-10am: 12,129
10-11am: 14,891
11am-Noon: 16,122
68% of the voters so far today are over 50 years old.
47% are over 60 years old.
22 percent of voters so far today are 70 years old or older.
17-29 years old - Just over 9% of voters today so far
30-39 - 9.7%
40-49 - 13%
50-59 - 21%
60-69 - 25%
70-79 16%
80+ 6%
More than 80% (don’t know exact percentage) in suburban Cook have taken Democratic ballots
James Scalzitti
Director of Communications,
Cook County Clerk’s Office
- Nearly Normal - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:15 pm:
As of 2:00 272 voters in polling place in North Normal. About half of what we had 4 years ago. We had two college students who registered to vote in their home precinct since they are not at school.
- Justin - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:26 pm:
I was the 45th voter at my Precinct (Nameoki 5) in Madison County when I went before 1PM. Lines were very short.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:33 pm:
PLEASE NOTE: Voters who have used paper ballots today are not included in these numbers. We don’t get that data until the polls close and those ballots get counted. So you can assume overall turnout so far is at least a little higher than the numbers we have here.
James Scalzitti
Director of Communications,
Cook County Clerk’s Office
- Present - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
I live in a small town south of Springfield. Went this morning. Only one in there. You should not have to state which ballot you want. Read the first line of this. Idc at all but the looks are enough to keep most people away. Let alone the pandemic geesh Vote if you can. Plenty of sanitation.
- minnow - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 3:03 pm:
Spouse & I just voted in rural Pope Co (far southeastern IL)
Plenty of disinfecting wipes & sanitizer on hand.
We took our own pens & were the only voters present. All judges were very understanding of concerns about infection.
Quick & easy - We were # 70 & 71
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 3:14 pm:
2pm Update:
102,024 TOTAL VOTERS SO FAR
Our data person is working on the 3pm numbers right now so that will be available soon.
Boomers are still the highest turnout percentage today.
James Scalzitti
Director of Communications,
Cook County Clerk’s Office
- Fixer - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 3:43 pm:
My daughter and I were numbers 49 and 50 in norther McLean county this morning. Poll judges there stated they were at half staff (4 present) but we’re in good spirits and super helpful as my daughter had to register on site. Everything was cleaned and available hand sanitizer was on hand.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 17, 20 @ 4:15 pm:
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