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Early morning precinct reports

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posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 6:54 am

Comments

On an average number of voters per hour basis based on the race with most votes in 2014, the NW suburban precinct I’m at is running strong. As many voters per hour as 2014, but considering my voters per hour metric is based on total votes regardless of early, E-day, VBM, I’d say this is strong turnout for the first hour.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:07 am
Big line at 6:20 in my precinct, then it petered out by the time I finished a half hour later. Still pretty strong for a non presidential election.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:09 am
Line of 15 people at the Carol Stream Public Library at 6:30, and a saw a pic of a line of 20 at the CS Parks Recreation Center around 7.

Comment by Lunchbox Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:14 am
40th Ward Andersonville polling place about 45 minute wait at 7a.

Comment by Northside Sam Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:24 am
My spouse and I were voting for the first time at a new polling place after moving last year. We had updated our voter registration. They had sheets for us but the election judge asked for our ID since she didn’t know us. We looked at each other and showed our ID’s. No other issues. We voted. We looked like everybody else there. Small town central IL.

Comment by Dog Lover Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:28 am
High turnout already at 6 am at our tiny polling place according to the election judges. Steady flow of people while I was there casting my votes.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:37 am
Small town precinct in McLean county. First time I’ve seen more voters than election judges at the poll in the first hour. Hopefully turnout keeps strong for all the polls today.

Comment by Fixer Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:38 am
Tom Cross has 9:12 tee time at Fox Bend. No sign of him yet at the driving range.

I think it’s too cold, wet, and windy, but it’s Election Day, Tom will golf.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:43 am
Long lines at 48th wars polling places, but machines are working, judges are on duty, and enthusiasm is high!

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 7:57 am
Cross needs to be figuring out what to do with the immenant crisis at WIU that the board has been covering up.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:00 am
===Cross needs to be figuring out what to do with the immenant crisis at WIU that the board has been covering up.==

If I see him on the driving range…

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:04 am
Northwest Cook - Senate 27 - 7:15am

TONS of Dem yard signs at polling places, a few drop and run GOP signs. A few of the GOP signs weren’t sunk in so they’ve already blown over.

Doesn’t look like volunteers for either side stole any signs from the other side.

We early voted so no telling what’s happening inside but parking lots looked pretty full.

Comment by anono Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:06 am
The yard sign vote is strong today.

Comment by LoyalVirus Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:08 am
We drove by 3 rural precincts this morning in highly Republican areas. The parking lots were all packed.

Comment by Downstate Dem Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:14 am
I understand at a precinct in Highwood there was a long line when it opened but by the time my friend finished voting the line was down to five people. I was in the city yesterday and saw the line at Welles Park was still outside the fieldhouse and almost all the way to Lincoln Avenue.

Comment by Maestro Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:16 am
OW, suggestion: Text AFTER your swing. Likely improve your game.

Comment by Matts Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:18 am
Small polling place (a church) on a street dividing IL-17 from IL-18.

In at 6:55, out at 7:15. Eight people ahead of me, seven functioning booths. Why can’t it be like this for every voter in the country?

I’ve been voting for a long time, and there’s no feeling like it.

Comment by dbk Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:18 am
Small town in Central Illinois. No wait, I was 13 voter overall at 6:45. They said they expect high turnout. Several close local races.

Comment by Retired Educator Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:23 am
0815 hours, Riverdale (southern suburb of Cook County) (Frank Zuccarelli’s Democratic stronghold of Thornton Township)…no line at polling place; 5 minute wait to use electronic voting machine. However, early voting site in neighboring Calumet Park was packed on two attempts to vote yesterday.

Comment by revvedup Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:27 am
Polling place very busy but no waiting at 6:30 am near Springfield. Usually just a few voters.

Comment by Ben Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:31 am
Not a polling place observation but I’ve had on the news since 5am and only noticed 4 non-election ads. Somebody is burning off a lot of money today. Or has it been like this for a while. I usually time-shift my programs.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:42 am
9th Ward Southside of Chicago

Unorganized, no pens, loud obnoxious staff

Comment by Hopeful Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:43 am
My wife looks young for her age. She went in to vote this morning in Kane County and was asked to fill out a form that included party affiliation. Then after marking her democratic party affiliation, she was told that one letter in her signature looked different than the original and forced to produce ID. She had it, but I’m not sure any of this went down like it should have at a polling place we have been using for a decade. Should she report this issue to someone and if so, to whom?

On the other hand, I voted early and had none of these issues.

Comment by Travel Guy Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:43 am
Bloom 2 at 608a - 8 people in line. Held about that the whole time I was there. NO signs at the polling place - I can’t remember a time when that has happened in over 20 years. No one working outside either. Second precinct Bloom 82 had about the same numbers

Comment by RWP Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:45 am
I early voted but I drove by my polling place in Moline and the parking lot was packed and a line out the door. I’m eating breakfast right now at a restaurant and I see a lot of people with I voted stickers on. Turnout I expect to be huge this year

Comment by QCman Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:50 am
Friend of mine reported that despite opening at 6AM, her polling place didn’t have ballots as of 8:20 AM. 42nd Ward, 23rd precinct in Chicago.

Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:50 am
Just before 8am at Montdvale Commons in Springfield, 70 people had voted.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:50 am
Note - if the entire western civilization knows there is a massive turnout maybe have more judges and staff at the polls. Just a thought…

Comment by view from the cheap seats Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 8:59 am
Small, rural, heavily republican Springfield area. Number 60 shortly before 8 am.

Comment by 618er Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:00 am
Travel Guy-

Absolutely, please report - 1-833-VOTER18 is the hotline for the democratic party of illinois. No voter in Illinois is required to fill out a form that declares their party, and the tactics you describe are suppression not allowed under Illinois law.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:00 am
I agree with RWP–this is the first time I have seen absolutely no signs at the polling places, no one standing out side passing out palm cards.

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:01 am
Travel Guy, I would report. Party affiliation is not an appropriate question in the general election, and because they didn’t question her until after learning her affiliation, it sounds targeted. You could report to the State Board of Elections or your county board of election commissioners.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:01 am
I voted early, but Jerry Long was already on the radio complaining before 8 am.

Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:03 am
At 6:40 this morning I was #45 at a location with 4 precincts in Litchfield.

Comment by historic66 Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:05 am
No line this morning on UIUC campus at 8:00 a.m. Only 14 voters had been through.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:06 am
===My wife looks young for her age. She went in to vote this morning in Kane County and was asked to fill out a form that included party affiliation. Then after marking her democratic party affiliation, she was told that one letter in her signature looked different than the original and forced to produce ID. ===

Your morning reminder that when Republicans can’t win, they cheat

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:06 am
At 7:45am about 15 people in the polling station in my town. Interesting that some preferred to wait to vote on an electronic machine rather than on a paper ballot. The ballot reader machine had recorded 87 votes including my ballot.

Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:08 am
Travel Guy - I live in Kane County and voted this morning. That form is a general form used for all elections. It asks for name, address, and signature. The party affiliation info is requested only for primary elections, and the form indicates this. So, despite what others assert, this isn’t an attempt at “suppression.”

Comment by ThrowingChat Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:08 am
And yes, Travel Guy- report this abuse. The local people think they can get away with making up their own rules. I’ve had to report before. Ask them for their ID- they don’t like it.

Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:10 am
=== Should she report this issue to someone and if so, to whom?===

Attorney general hotline

Chicago area and northern Illinois voters should call 1-866-536-3496 (TTY 1-800-964-3013).
Central and southern Illinois voters should call 1-866-559-6812 (TTY 1-877-844-5461).

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:10 am
ThrowingChat-

It absolutely is suppression. It was only after she marked “Democrat” that her signature was challenged. That is a classic technique among Republican election judges. But go ahead, excuse their cheating some more.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:10 am
Nothing sneaky but I think passing petitions for Preckwinkle for Mayor at polling places where she is onthe ballot for Board President is tacky.

Comment by BigLou Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:11 am
==Note - if the entire western civilization knows there is a massive turnout maybe have more judges and staff at the polls.==
My wife is an election judge in DuPage County. She was advised there is a shortage of judges.
BTW, cast vote at 7:10AM with three people in front, and 3 in line when I left 10 minutes later.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:11 am
Chucktown. No line, but most of the booths were taken. Had to hunt for an empty one.

Choice of paper or electronic. I chose paper. Still don’t trust the electronic ones.

Comment by MSIX Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:11 am
Voted at 6:45 this morning at the Police Station in suburban Burr Ridge. I was the 82nd voter. There’s a $166.4M bond referendum on the ballot for the High School District that includes both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South. I noticed that the “Vote No” signs that have been up for weeks on streets in Burr Ridge and Hinsdale have been removed. Nice of the opponents of the bond issue to take down their signs early. /snark

Comment by GA Watcher Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:12 am
===The yard sign vote is strong today.===

In my town there are only two people with signs, the GOP county chairman and the mayor. There are absolutely no signs anywhere else. That aside, turnout was quite heavy for a midterm. Actually, at this point in the day, it is a heavier turnout than two years ago, but I doubt that will hold. A lot of late voters in 2016. And there is nothing on the ballot but statewide races and an assured Republican congressional race. #78 at 8:15AM.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:15 am
State Rep. Jerry Long’s supporters are reporting electioneering at polling places in Ladd, Spring Valley (Frank Mautino’s hometown) and Streator.

Comment by NT Abbey Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:19 am
No line this morning on UIUC campus at 8:00 a.m. Only 14 voters had been through.

Lots of early voting there: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-11-05/long-early-voting-line-illini-union-discussed-ui-senate-panel-meeting.html

I voted by mail and didn’t pass any polling places on the way to work. I did see some I Voted stickers on fellow bus riders this morning.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:20 am
Oh, Joe … As you’ll note, my comment was only in reference to the party affiliation part of the written request for a ballot. That request, given that it stated on the form thatit was only required for primary elections, does not represent suppression.

I can’t (and didn’t) comment on whether the signature challenge was appropriate or not. I wasn’t there, and neither were you. But I will state that I have been asked in other elections for ID in Kane County when the judge determined, for whatever reason, that my signature didn’t match the one on file.

Comment by ThrowingChat Tuesday, Nov 6, 18 @ 9:21 am