US Census 2002 Total Population Estimate 12,600,620
Reporting live from Chicago, this is Dick Daley. Back to you, Doug.
Capitol: Springfield.
Heavy turnout here in Springfield, I've never ever had to wait in line before, but today I did. I live in a heavily Republican precinct :-) I don't hope for much from the People's Republik of Illinois, but I can always dream, can't I?
I will be going out in a few, what should i ask Doug?
I managed to talk a few people into not voting. Thats a good thing since they were going to go for kerry.
I arrived at about 8:00 cst, near north side of Chicago (Lincoln Park). Lots of people walking down the street for a normal workday leading me to believe turnout was good. Practically no visible signage outside the Polling Place (PP). One K/E sign across the street and two B/C signs on a fence down the street. Inside the PP there were three long lines representing the three precincts assigned to that PP. Absolutely no marlarkey going on. No cops, no blatant sings of any partisanship. I was what I assumed were poll watchers but could not tell at all what side they were on. The only thing I did notice is that the line for the southern most precinct (which is the Cabrini Green area) was very small comparitively. I would guess that turnout was rather heavy not based on bussing or phone banks but rather just a much higher level of voter interest.
Not that any of this matters considering Illinois is definately blue and we will unleash the wrath of Obama on DC. (Sorry about that).
Polls are slow here today. All the Dems are headed up I-94 to vote in Wisconsin.
Iowahawk in Chicago
bump for later
in Southern IL (Randolph County) out of all the yard signs... 80% are BUSH signs or local republicans, and the other 20% are sKerry and local democrats.
heading out now to cast my vote for BUSH!
We voted early this morning in the suburb of Berwyn, IL. Polling place was crawling with a gaggle of people, obviously from way outside the community, wearing bright yellow teachers proclaiming them members of some Illinois Coalition for immigrant rights(I paraphrase -- I was unnerved by their aggressive attitudes). Anyone else encountering this? There were new and unfamilar election judges, several of whom found English a great challenge; the yellow-shirts spent a lot of time eavesdropping on voters' names and scowling at white people.
Heavy, orderly voting here in Dennis Hastert's district. Not nearly enough to offset buried ballots in Chi-town.
I was asked to produce a picture ID for the first time. I've voted in the same place for 15 years and this was a first. Also--most election judges were new. (Our district was gerrymandered after the 2000 census and we lost our Repub Rep) The Chicago Board of Elections rep Tom Leach was on WLS this morning saying no one should be asked to produce ID--it's intimidation. Called the Cook County Board of Elections. They said they would make a note of it. Heard a retired Chicago police officer on WLS who once voted as a Repub in a primary. He said he voted in the same place he has voted for the past 20 years and his vote was challenged! Also heard on a Milwaukee radion station that 30 vans rented by the Repubs to take voters to the polls today had their tires slashed last night. Also a police officer called in and said the Moveon.org people are a nuisance at Wisconsin polls today....
IL 2000 Election results
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/electoral_college/2000/popular_vote.html
2,589,026 Gore 2000
2,019,421 Bush 2000
Voted around 6:45 in Dupage county. Was the 70th voter in my precinct (not counting the 2000 ballots that were probably preloaded). The only issue I had was the woman asked me to resign my voting slip since my signature which is usually very sloppy did not look enough like the one I had signed when I registered. All I could think was that I hope the same scrutiny is applied in all precincts. I live right across the street from my polling place so I made sure my lawn had plenty of W paraphenalia. Go GW!!!!!
I early voted on Friday. I had requested and rec'd the application for an absentee ballot. I returned the application the next day. I never rec'd my ballot although it was sent out in Sept. It was a hassle to go vote at the county office, but I did so happily.
I have heard some Bush/Cheney ads today and yesterday on WLS Radio. Does the campaign know something we don't know are are they revving up the base to get out for the benefit of House Reps, like our Phil Crane.
Lake County, IL
Avon Township
Picture ID required.
Election judges compare signatures to voter registration.
No problems voting.
Higher turnout than I've ever seen around here.
Al Capone lived here once.
Voted at about 7:15 this morning with Mr. Retrokitten in far southern DuPage County. No lines, no id required. People were coming in more frequently when we were leaving. Almost got hit in the parking lot by a lady in a big silver Buick. Other then one election judge who looked to be in his very, very early 20's (he was wearing a shirt and tie, so I tend to believe he was repub) we were the youngest people who were there- both of us are 29.