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* From a pal…
Hi buddy. What is the best site to monitor results tonight. Where will u be?
This will be the best site, of course. And I’ll be right here, posting away. We’ll have election returns, video, links to live video, etc., etc.
* Can Mike Madigan be blamed for this? It’s probably too late for the Tribune to try…
Candidates across Illinois are trying to make the most of their last day before Tuesday’s election. But a leading contender in a tight Cook County race had to step off the campaign trail for a few hours.
Assessor candidate Forrest Claypool said his “emergency” began last night after Halloween trick-or-treating. “I made the mistake of stealing my 9-year-old daughter’s Tootsie Roll,” he said. “It was like a hydraulic lift on my cavity filling, and just pulled it right out.”
Before he knew it, Claypool was in a Hyde Park dentist’s chair. The repair on Tooth No. 18 forced Claypool to cancel a Monday afternoon appearance at Manny’s Deli, a frequent stop for politicians before Election Day. He hoped the Novocain would wear off in time to meet rush-hour commuters at the Roosevelt stop of CTA’s Red Line.
* Tony Peraica has ruined it for everybody. From a press release…
At approximately 11:30 PM last night, an automobile registered in Maryland, was involved in the alleged theft of Joe Walsh for Congress campaign signs in Hainesville, Illinois. The theft occurred at the intersection of Illinois Route 120 and Illinois Route 134.
Steve Tucker, a volunteer in the Joe Walsh for Congress campaign, and another volunteer, were sitting in a car at the 7-11 gas station across the street, and observed the passenger of a car with Maryland License Plate (8 MD 1526) remove three Joe Walsh for Congress campaign signs from the shoulder of the road and replace them with campaign signs for Melissa Bean.
The getaway car was registered with a specialty license plate issued by the State of Maryland for the Maryland Democratic Party.
*** UPDATE *** I didn’t even see Walsh’s video link. Thanks to a commenter for pointing it out. First of all, the Walsh video doesn’t show the alleged operative actually touching the sign. At the very beginning she appears to be standing next to a Bean sign. And lastly, the Walsh sign appears to be posted in a public right of way, which is illegal. Is not stealing or even touching an illegally posted sign illegal? No. Watch it for yourself…
Lamest. Allegation. Ever.
And more silliness: He said. She said.
* From the RNC’s spokesperson…
Thank you for putting up with my endless stream of emails.
No. Thank YOU for your endless streams of mob banker references.
* A new record! From the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform…
Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Kilbride’s retention election has set a record as the most expensive retention election in the state’s history and the second most expensive in our nation’s history. Kilbride’s committee and his opponents have raised more than $3.2 million. The previous Illinois record for a retention race was in the low six figures. Kilbride had $2.6 million compared to nearly $700,000 for his opponents. Nearly $1.5 million of Kilbride’s money came from the Democratic Party of Illinois. The opposition JUSTPAC is the political committee of the Illinois Civil Justice League, which has the financial support of insurance companies and health care providers who support limits on medical malpractice and other personal injury lawsuits.
* From a buddy in Decatur…
* Today’s front page…
Yep. Even on election day, they have to get something in there about the mayor’s race.
Here’s a more interesting headline: Meeks never did endorse Pat Quinn.
…Adding… People, don’t be silly. If you see vote fraud, call the attorney general, the state’s attorney, the FBI. Don’t call WLS Radio. What’re they gonna do? Send Roe over to heckle? Sheesh.
* What’s going on at your precincts?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 10:59 am
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Don’t forget the coverage of Fioretti…
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:08 am
It is quite a beautiful day here in the County of DuPage. It used to be the case that a fine, sunny election day meant a high turnout.
But with early voting does the weather still have any impact? And if so, does it help the Democrats or Republicans more?
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:08 am
I was only the 20th person to vote in 12th ward at 9am.
Comment by bdogg Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:11 am
Adding this ward is in Little Village neighborhood on SW side of Chicago. 7th pct.
Comment by bdogg Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:12 am
DuPage Dave,
We have seen between 12-18% early/absentee voting in DuPage, according to final figures from the Election Commission. Pollwatchers are reporting around 15% (some higher) of the voters in selected representative precincts have voted as of 10:00AM. Numbers based on eligible voters in a precinct.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:12 am
Chicago TV media reporting very high turnouts across Chicago. Focused 11 AM coverage on high turnout at a couple south side locations.
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:12 am
I was in Decatur and saw the Obama signs. They are on practically every street corner in the heavily minority neighborhoods. So much for our post-partisan, post-racial president I suppose.
Comment by Sugar Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:13 am
Oops, I better put back my son’s Milk Duds…
Heartless Libertarian remarked that the ballot protector was too short—I noticed this, too, so I used the sheet I brought with the Chicago Council of Lawyer’s judicial picks to cover the exposed part when I put the ballot into the machine. If the man at the machine had tried to see the rest of my ballot I would have protested.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:15 am
DuPage Dave,
And for some perspective, total turnout in DuPage in past elections:
1994 - 59%
1996 - 77%
1998 - 58%
2000 - 76%
2002 - 56%
2004 - 76%
2006 - 51%
2008 - 76%
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:15 am
If you watch the walsh video, you actually never see her steal or touch a sign. It seems like this is another petty attempt by walsh to get publicity
Comment by No i am not drunk Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:15 am
32nd:
Don’t you think that sort of concern is a bit overexaggerated? I mean…I’m the one who put my own ballot into the machine this morning…it works best when you take it out of the little cardboard thing to slide it in. I know the nice lady working next to the machine saw who I voted for. And I didn’t care, and I don’t think she cared either. She’s not going to break in to the thing and take it out (and even if she did, the data’s already stored).
I’m not saying there isn’t voter intimidation, just that…once the ballot is literally going into the machine, there’s not much anyone can do.
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:18 am
So who, exactly, was giving out Milk Duds in Forrest’s neighborhood? Perhaps someone who used to work as a legislative aide for Madigan? I’m not saying, I’m just saying…
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:20 am
My wife just called and said there was still a line at 11:10am in our precinct (near Springfield). That has NEVER happened before - even in 2008. And it’s just not retired voters but young and middle aged voters getting out to vote. I can’t believe this turn-out!
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:24 am
I had not thought of it before but can you really put something, signs, on public property and continue to claim ownership? If so, I may go start an ad business.
Comment by BigTwich Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:29 am
#60 at 10:45-11am on the south side of the city (ward 20). A new precinct for me, so don’t have a feel for turnout…no line, but a steady trickle of people.
Comment by JohnK Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:29 am
A sign of the times: normally, GOP signs in Chicago put out by midnight of Election Eve will be nearly gone by 3am. The GOP used to do double sign shifts to beat the “hoovers” by putting out new signs around 4am. Not so this year. Probably more a lack of Machine manpower than change in sentiment.
Comment by 42nd Ward Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:30 am
DuPage Dave,
So, some back of the envelope calculations, approximately 30% of the eligible voters have voted as of 10:00 AM this morning. As a guess, I say that DuPage is headed for 60-62% of eligible voters for turnout this year, slightly better than 1994. There are 555k eligible voters this year in DuPage, which means that about 330k votes will be cast this year.
There are about 127k Republicans, 108k Democrats and 194 Independents and Mixed voters. The balance are new registrants/unidentified voters.
So, if we assume 60% turnout, and the Independent/Mix break 60% for R (consistent with Gallup polling), the R’s will beat the D’s by at least 50k votes in DuPage.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:32 am
Rs need to beat Ds by a lot more than 50k in DuPage
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:33 am
A friend just voted @ a west side Springfield location with 4 or 5 precincts. Big line- was ballot # 1200.
Comment by culatr Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:34 am
You should be at 100+ per precinct by noon.
This year, that means 200 ballot counts because of the double ballot.
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:37 am
Well in a heavily GOP precinct in Warren Township, over 100 ballots had been cast by 7:45 AM. This precinct usually has about 550 voters in a non-presidential election.
Comment by A.B. Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:42 am
A.B. - all precincts are different. If you have 550 voters in an off-year, you need to have half that by noon, and 65% of that by 1.
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:45 am
Probably expected given the community. Precincts reporting high turnout in Oak Park today.
Comment by OakParker Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:46 am
Jo - agreed. Just sharing raw data.
Comment by A.B. Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:47 am
Steady, but not overwhelming at my West Loop IBEW hall polling place.
Did see a guy doing electronic voting who for some reason was adamant about not wanting a receipt and so he pulled out the electronic voting card and may have screwed something up. It’s a pain to fill in all those lines for judges, but I hope they never get rid of paper ballots. Yikes.
Rahm had a guy out collecting signatures in front but none of the other mayoral candidates had anything there.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:49 am
SInce Gump lives on the North Side can anyone explain what doing in Hyde Park…stuffing some….envelopes. Yup that’s a stuffing party.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:51 am
Jo, is that right? I couldn’t tell if both ballots counted as one or not, but there were just over 200 cast when I voted at 10:30 in the 17th precinct. That seemed high to me, so it could be the double ballot. Out of 600 registered voters, that’s either about a third or only 15%. I hope it’s the former, or I’ll be very disappointed in my neighbors.
There was a short line even that late, which I rarely see in my precinct. The sequoia machine is horrible, it spoiled my ballot and I had to use the paper one. Of course, the election judges had no idea of how to fix it. Why do they even bother with those if they don’t have anyone there who knows how to use it?
Outside was a Claypool volunteer and one of Schulter’s guys. Surprisingly, there were a lot of Brady signs present. They were lying flat on the ground, but at least they were not stolen. Funny that all of the other signs were fine, and it was only Brady’s that were pulled from the ground. The soil must have frozen in the exact spot were Brady’s volunteers placed them. There’s really no other explanation.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:52 am
Meeks was at Governor Quinn’s GOTV rally last night. However, he reserved the last Sunday for Scott Lee Cohen and was warm to Bill Brady. Pat Quinn has a lot of friends and staff who won’t forget Meek’s trying to play both sides.
Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:55 am
47th Ward - your precinct had 302 voters in ‘06. Depending on the type of ballot you and other people used, it is either a very high turnout or a very low turnout! LOL
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:58 am
CO: I know the ballot is going into the machine but I don’t want anyone to know who I voted for, period. I have a right of privacy, so if I can get it into the machine in private, I will. Read Trollope’s Palliser novels to find out about the problems open voting caused in 19th century Britain.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 11:59 am
32nd: That’s fine, I get it, and of course you’re entitled.
I’m just saying…this isn’t 19th century Britain. And it probably doesn’t matter if someone sees one penmark, lol!
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:05 pm
Thanks Jo, I’m impressed with your quick access to data. Keep it coming!
Here’s another report from noon: 44th Ward, 14th pct had 92 voters and the adjoining 20th pct had 116 so far (that’s voters, not ballots).
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:11 pm
Has Claypool moved to Hyde Park? He used to reside on the Northwest Side.
While everyone is properly consumed with the balloting today, I am looking ahead and wondering how any of these people are going to govern?
The property tax bills have been withheld from the voters by the politicians who were trying to bank the outrage lest it spill over into the precincts, but I got a nasty preview of the aftermath when my mortgage company hiked my property tax escrow by a substantial amount during the past month. The banks know what is in the offing for all of us with property tax bills.
Comment by Honest Abe Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:24 pm
Tinley Park, Christian Church, six precincts, decent turnout of 1,000+ by noon, with the added fun of McCarthy and Junkas shaking hands of voters within feet of each other.
Comment by COPN Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:36 pm
Let’s move the precinct reports to this post.
Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:38 pm
I just want to know why they didn’t stand there and make her say the pledge. Everyone knows that real Americans recit the pledge before placing yard signs in public spaces.
Comment by ShadyBillBrady Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:46 pm
47th Ward - that is about 1/3 of the 2006 total for those precincts….
Comment by Jo Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:49 pm
This has to be the least-pleasant election I’ve ever voted in. Not just because those little portable booth tables are too darned wobbly while you’re trying to fill in the stupid ovals. But I’m just mad at the lack of choices. At least a third of my ballot was candidates running un-opposed. That is not good for a democracy.
Comment by Gregor Samsa Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:49 pm
Again, let’s move the precinct reports to this post.
Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:51 pm
COPN,
With the high turnout out there Kevin might be back selling chalk to Catholic schools tommorrow. Too bad his voucher bill didn’t pass.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:51 pm
I just want to report that Rahm has not been spotted in any downstate precincts, so far. We are hoping he does well in this election.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 12:52 pm
Passing lit and collecting signatures in Rogers Park.
First a “poll watcher” shows up, erects two Pollak signs, and sits in the lobby and discourages people to vote if they are unsure of their registration or location.
And a Republican election judge is openly pushing voters to vote for Pollak at a location down the street.
Other than that, it is an absolutely gorgeous day. Working by the lake, not a cloud in the sky. Its a perfect fall day.
Comment by matt Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 1:03 pm
Regarding the Joe Walsh sign stolen in Hainesville, I was visiting family there on Sunday. I don’t condone the theft at all. However, someone could steal 1,000 Joe Walsh signs and there would still be 3,000 left standing. I was STUNNED by the number of signs the guy had posted.
Comment by 47th Ward, 47th Precinct Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 1:37 pm
Is Meeks pledge to turn over the running of his church being taken seriously by anyone?
Comment by Tom Joad Tuesday, Nov 2, 10 @ 2:49 pm