County Clerks Examine Voter Turnout in Preparation for Election Day

Published on 19 March 2024

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – Donald Trump and Joe Biden already have the number of delegates they need to be their party’s nominees for president as Illinois voters head to the polls to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day Tuesday.

“We do have local races with the officers coming on, and we encourage them to get out because those are the ones that really make your decisions for your local areas,” Cathy Jenkins, the Vermilion County Clerk, said.

Turnout in primary elections is typically lower compared to a general election even in presidential years.

Data from the Illinois State Board of Elections shows in 2020, the last presidential election year, statewide voter turnout for the presidential primary was around 28 percent. But for the general election, it jumped to about 73 percent.

“We do see … more independent minded and non-partisan voters not participate and we wish that they would,” Don Gray, the Sangamon County Clerk, said. “In Illinois’ system of election, you have to declare your party’s ballot at the primary, and that sometimes deters folks from taking part.”

In Sangamon County, average voter turnout for presidential primaries is around 22 percent.

Early voter turnout is up about five percent this time around, but Gray said what’s really standing out for this primary election is the shift in how people are casting their ballots. 

Compared to 2020, there is about a 173 percent increase in the number of people who have voted by mail. On the other hand, in person, early voting is down 71 percent.

“I think it’s on par and in trend since the pandemic, certainly we’ve been exposed to the other options to be able to cast a ballot,” Gray said. “Vote by mail has really increased in popularity in Sangamon County. Our voters are comfortable and have confidence in knowing that our vote by mail process is secure and it’s done well.”

In Vermillion County, election officials say turnout is between 11 and 14 percent in a primary. 

“We’re running low almost historically, almost every primary, and then the general is when people really come out and vote,” Jenkins said.

Carrie Wilson, the supervisor of elections in the county clerk’s office, said vote by mail numbers are typically higher than the early vote count but currently, those numbers are about the same.

“We have noticed a pickup in [the] early vote this week, but numbers are still pretty low than what they normally are,” Wilson said.

For people who haven’t voted yet, polls open on Election Day at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

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