I voted early on March 7th. Early voting is a great thing and I hope it catches on. Now that I have already voted, I can work for the Giannoulias campaign all day long. A modest and perhaps biased guess: Giannoulias wins with 55%.
Tweed
Dave Bender
· 3 years ago
Rich,
First one to vote in Logan County's largest precinct at 6AM. Not as much snow here in Lincoln - I would say only a couple of inches thus far. Visibility is not too bad and roads are in pretty good shape, even though all schools are closed. Turnout will be lower, but I believe more people will vote after work due to leaving earlier for work and waiting for the winds to die down. Usually here, more people vote earlier in the day, so this could be a bit different - so don't believe the exit polls today. Good luck tonite on WLS and Fox...
diane
· 3 years ago
The St. Clair County democratic party leadership included an affidavit in packets given to precinct committeemen working today's election which must be filled out and notorized stating that they will not use party money to buy votes. In contrast to the 2004 elections where county money was used to buy votes in East St. Louis, Democratic chairman, Robert Spraque warned in a cover letter that "under no circumstances should party money be used to pay for votes".
SenorAnon
· 3 years ago
In my suburban Cook precinct, the election judge had the touch-screen machine on the table in front of him, and was asking for a screwdriver. Eeek. Could be a long night waiting for results.
And while I think the new broadsheet ballots are kind of strange, if there is a manual recount, it will be obvious who the intended vote was for.
sangamogop
· 3 years ago
I'm sitting in a precinct in sang co as a watcher. We've had 7 voters thus far-6 have voted GoP and 1 voted prop only. Snow and blowing have made it difficult but not as bad as they were predicting.
sangamogop
· 3 years ago
I'm sitting in a SPFLD prec as a poll watcher. We've had 9 voters-6 GoP, 2 Dem & 1 prop only. The snow is bad but not as bad as predicted.
kdruben
· 3 years ago
I voted at 7:00 a.m. in Hoffman Estates. I was the number 6 voter in my precinct at that time.
For the first time in a long time, I pulled a Republican ballot. My reasoning... I know that I like most Democrats and most of the people who I like will more than likely make it through. However, there are some extremely conservative people whom I would rather not see making it through the primary. Plus, Churchill needs my support to get past Salvi and McSweeney up here...
ISU REP
· 3 years ago
Haven't voted yet today, looks like Brady lucked out B-N got 2-3 inches at most...roads are "ok" for central illinois...they really need to learn how to plow down here!!
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
Voted around 7:45 in downtown Chicago and only a handfull of people voted so far. No lines, more judges than voters. Actually I was the only voter there.
antiSANGgop
· 3 years ago
I voted early in sangamon county for "Linda Hawker" for county clerk. Drove passed my polling place and all was up and running at 7am. roads were not bad and plows were out. Just talked to a friend in Cook county who said turnout is bad, some snow but lots of wind.
UrbanaGOP
· 3 years ago
3rd GOP voter in my precinct at 7:30a.m. Snow hasn't been that bad. New optical scan voting was easy to use. I think that Brady will make it close, but Judy will win.
the Patriot
· 3 years ago
Southern IL/carbondale, no snow, just some rain and a litle chilly. voted at 7 am. Several voters in front of and behind. Small rural precinct, but as usual will have high voter turnout.
Anon
· 3 years ago
Crappy weather in Springfield... but hopefully that will not stop all the Democratic voters from getting out---- voted for Mangieri!!!!!
Jack
· 3 years ago
I was in about 20 polling places today in Evanston and I'd say the touch-screens are working in about 3 of them as of 8AM. Most people are able to vote with paper ballots, but I'm told that they will have to fix the problem in order to report their results tonight, which could make for late night in the Stroger/Claypool race.
Wildcat
· 3 years ago
My wife and I voted at 8:20 this morning in Chicago, Ward 1. We were only the 7th and 8th people to vote in the precinct. I got handed a Democratic ballot without being asked which ballot I wanted. Ah...gotta love Chicago. Anyway, the weather up here is very windy and very cold - though no snow.
Anon
· 3 years ago
Rough weather from the Metro East to Quincy. Turnout is down, but expected to get going later in the day as the roads are cleared and people get off work.
Skeeter
· 3 years ago
My wife and I were voters 1 and 2 in our Streeterville precinct. The election judges were nice, but very confused. It will be a slow night. I actually prefer the new ballots. It seemed easier to me. No more questions about lining up the ballot with the book.
The weather up here is not as bad as down south, but is still pretty nasty. It was bad enough with the cold and the wind to walk two blocks to vote. I'm not sure I would have gone much farther.
Last minute choices: I went with the two Greeks, Alexi and Alscot (spelling?). Alexi was the tough call. I like somebody with banking experience, but I am not convinced that he is the best choice. Illinois is filled with bankers. Aren't any of them Democrats? With regard to the other Greek [Alscot], Danny Davis needs a wake up call. He's got a big district and the people on the east end should also be remembered.
Too bad
· 3 years ago
Tweed-
Sorry you voted early and missed out on the carnage of late in the Giannoulias camp, I guess we know the kid got one vote.
Ron Burgundy
· 3 years ago
"In contrast to the 2004 elections where county money was used to buy votes in East St. Louis, Democratic chairman, Robert Spraque warned in a cover letter that 'under no circumstances should party money be used to pay for votes.'"
Somehow I'd feel better if he had said "anything" instead of just "party money."
Anon
· 3 years ago
Friends report: 8:30 am, 42nd Ward, Chicago:
At that time, 15 D votes, 8 R votes. Once "rush hour" is over, few votes until eve. rush. Polling place empty; same place in 2004 had lines outside the door to vote.
downstateyp
· 3 years ago
Adams County looks slow, we had a combined 5 precincts at my polling place and I was the 27th voter (R and D) so who knows...
ISU REP
· 3 years ago
@ 9:45 Normal Pre. 3....35 voters, all Republican (Shocker I Know...A) obviously a lot of people in town are going to pull R's because of Brady. B)Hotly contested primary for McLean County Sheriff...Voted: JBT, Birkett, Essig...everything else like usual is these parts is uncontested...
NW burbs
· 3 years ago
Jim Morici seems to think everyone wants his yard signs... He had his hired guns (were they wearing ski masks?) stick signs on every other corner in at least Arlington Hts yesterday afternoon. Way to tick off voters who neither asked for nor wanted his signs.
The signs seem to be mostly gone this morning -- it is garbage day in Arlington.
(Hint: don't put a Dem trial lawyer's yard signs in front of homes which willingly hosted Alan Keyes signs last year... tends to get the right-wing base in a lather.)
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
Low turnout Saw some good coverage for Claypool and Avila in my neighborhood
Mark
· 3 years ago
Whoa ... BIG problems with the paper-ballot counting machines in Cook County Schaumburg Township... they Jam frequently... and Judges are actually breaking the ballot box seals to retrieved the crumpled ballot... (YIKES). I saw a very Frustrated Cook County technical rep work for 30 minutes trying to figure out how to unjam the machine... he is a contractor and actually put his hands on the crumpled ballots (East-Indian ethnicity... I hope he is a U.S. citizen, and that Cook County contracted with a U.S company)
Niles Township
· 3 years ago
Voted at 7:15 am & was the 8th voter. The polling place was empty except for the judges who looked bored already. The election judges did not remind me to vote both sides of the ballot. I did remember to do so, but wonder if this will impact vote totals in the judicial races making them even lower than normal.
Right Wing Republican
· 3 years ago
Kane County is using a new electronic voting machine today for the first time. I believe we are the only County that will be fully computerized this election (I think the city of Peoria is also fully computerized).
In any case, if all goes well (what are the odds of that happening?), the home of Obiewon will be the first county to give complete results. We have been told that after the two receiving stations download their computer cards (I'm a tally judge tonight), the results are tabulated and put on the web page (http://www.kanecountyelections.org/ElectionResu... ) by 7:45 pm.
If the Obiemeister doesn't win up here with 60% in his own county, then put a fork in him everywhere else, as he is finished.
Bluefish
· 3 years ago
How much did the ballot counting machine contractor contribute to the Blago campaign to get the contract?
diane
· 3 years ago
If the voting machine jams, the judges are usually instructed to put future ballots into a slot in the machine where they stay hidden until a real tech from the county can come and fix it. Then the uncounted ballots are fed into the tabulator by a judge from each party. At least we are taught down here in Madison County.
Bubs
· 3 years ago
Turnout in my precinct was tiny. I was the 28th voter at 8:30 am.
diane
· 3 years ago
I meant to say, at least that is how we are are taught down here. Sorry.
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
Link to Geo-Karis video on Fox News javascript:newVideo('032006/032006_sr_brown','Special_Report','Age%20a%20Liability%3F','Politics','-1');
donchicago48
· 3 years ago
I awoke early to a chilly, cloudy, windy morning free of snowfall so far in south-central Lake County. As I drove off to visit polling places, a large stack of campaign signs rattled in the back of my vehicle. I hurried from one polling place to the next, planting colorful placards in strategic locations, hoping to catch the eye of voters with one more message. The still-frozen ground made it tough to anchor the signs adequately against the March bluster on this first full day of Spring.
Inside my precinct polling place, a Junior High gymnasium, it was quiet. Election judges chatted about coming vacations, march madness, or the weather. My dear wife, a recently retired teacher, smiled up at me from her first election judge position. I asked how the early-morning voting was going, knowing this non-presidential Primary would likely draw few voters to the polls. She confirmed my suspicon, indicating that just a couple-dozen Republicans and no Democrats had braved the chilly winds to exercise their citizen franchise. The three other precincts looked equally sleepy.
The only item of interest to me was a devolping standoff in campaign-sign placement. A worker from an opposition 53rd District State Rep campaign had dared to place his candidate's sign in front of my favored Scott Bludorn sign. I judiciously repositioned Scott's sign to afford one more view for entering voters. I hope that puts an end to the campaign-sign controversey, but stay tuned, this could turn ugly ;)
illinifan86
· 3 years ago
Voted at 9:15am at a Southwest Springfield precinct. Pulled GOP ballot as 27th voter. Seems a little lower than normal early turnout with 4-6 inches of snow and lots of wind. New touch screen vote machine worked great.
Right Wing Republican
· 3 years ago
"If the voting machine jams, the judges are usually instructed to put future ballots into a slot in the machine where they stay hidden until a real tech from the county can come and fix it. Then the uncounted ballots are fed into the tabulator by a judge from each party. At least we are taught down here in Madison County."
OUR voting machines will not jam madam. They are state of the art electronic marvels. You push a button and "voila," through the magic of electronics your vote has been tabulated, recorded, and stored.
As for Mr. Bluefish - each county produces its own method of voting. Blago had nothing to do with the contract. We independently found a vendor and got a very fair and honest price. Just ask our County Clerk the next time you see him in his white, stretch-limo.
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
Turnout was 12 percent at 10:45 a.m. in the middle of Wheaton. About normal, maybe a bit low.
Nearly Normal
· 3 years ago
Voted at 10:00 in Normal 20. Were only about 30 who voted ahead of me, mostly Republicans. There are two polling places at the church, the other had very few voting. No one was at their table the whole time I was there. There will be more voters later in the day after work.
Snow had stopped earlier this morning. The town plowed and salted the main streets only and school in both Normal and Bloomington was cancelled. It is snowing again and there is some wind but not as bad as earlier. Don't know about rural roads.
I voted for JBT, Birkett, Emery (sheriff candidate, the only contested race locally). Sheriff candidate who wins the primary does not have an opponent on the Dem ballot. Sorry, but I have worked with Brady since '92 and I am not that impressed. He will be state senator until he doesn't want it.
Tony Soprano
· 3 years ago
I just voted in 1st Ward on Chicago's northside.. when i asked for Republican ballot everyone looked at me like I was an outcast.. pretty amusing considering they are just cogs in a machine. The new ballot system is horrible.. you have to use marker and fill in huge ovals for candidate you vote for.. when you take it to the guy at the machine.. everyone around can see who you voted for... It looks like another way for the machine to intimidate voters.
NW burbs
· 3 years ago
Cook County contracted with a U.S company)
Mark, Sequoia Systems is based in California. Ahnold hasn't seceded yet so rest easy. And what does the ethnicity of the county worker have to do with anything???
I'm Irish-German-Czech -- does that mean I shouldn't vote? Bah humbug.
ISU REP
· 3 years ago
Haha well thats two votes for JBT in Normal, hopefully there will be plenty more...
NW burbs
· 3 years ago
Right Wing Republican wrote: If the Obiemeister doesn’t win up here with 60% in his own county, then put a fork in him everywhere else, as he is finished.
Salad fork or dinner fork... or a spork since it's easier for eating all that free (bribery?) ice cream?
Why is it that I see more Uberweis ice cream shoppes after every election cycle? Could it be that he runs every election cycle?
Niles Township
· 3 years ago
In speaking with city & suburban friends, reaction to electronic voting is positive, but reaction to the mark the X optical scan option seems poor. At least no more hanging chads!
NW burbs
· 3 years ago
donchicago48 wrote: A worker from an opposition 53rd District State Rep campaign had dared to place his candidate’s sign in front of my favored Scott Bludorn sign. I judiciously repositioned Scott’s sign to afford one more view for entering voters. I hope that puts an end to the campaign-sign controversey, but stay tuned, this could turn ugly ;)
I thought Bludorn was a Libertarian? Though I s'pose with Bludo in the GOP primary now that makes Sid a right-wing Democrat.
Lakefronter
· 3 years ago
If only my polling place was doing half the volume of the Starbucks next door!
Mark
· 3 years ago
response to NW burbs .... the "County worker" is a County CONTRACTOR... ethnicity of the CONTRACTOR matters A LOT... 1) think "American jobs going overseas... courtesy of Cook County. 2) an NON-US citizen handeling ballots?
Nearly Normal
· 3 years ago
Tony Soprano, now you know how a Democrat feels down here in Central Illinois when they ask for a primary ballot!
About thirty years ago, a friend asked for a Democrat ballot at a rural polling place here in McLean County. Her then mother-in-law (an election judge!) got upset and told her that a Smith (an alias) NEVER votes Democrat. My friend held her ground and insisted on a Democrat ballot to vote. Reluctantly, the judges gave her a Democrat ballot.
My friend has remarried--to a Republican precinct committeeman! She says she often cancels out his vote during a general election.
A colleague of mine lives in Flanagan. The family moved there from Kankakee. The first time he voted in a primary and asked for Democrat ballot, he said that they had to look around to find him a ballot, dusted it off and gave it to him. I think he was kidding, surely they gave the polling place at least a couple of Dem ballots.
Silas - the assassin opus dei
· 3 years ago
23rd ward 10 pct had 92 voters as of 1115 am...
voted for Blago Garza....Sandoval must go!! Gionnnolaus John Kelly...Lipinski insulted voters with his manipulation Dart Claypool
Bluto
· 3 years ago
I am up in Antioch Township and what I heard is voter turnout is real low in most of Lake County. Strong in areas that are good for Geo!
DOWNSTATE
· 3 years ago
Had to wait in line and I heard Republican 6 times and Democrat once.As I was walking up 4 people were coming out of the building.So I would say we were having a good turn-out here.
St. Nickname
· 3 years ago
Sangamon County pct. 50 at 11am was at 27 (down about 15 from 2004) other parts of Sangamon including the east side is very low. Could be interesting for the State Rep. and Sheriff race
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
Claypool Alexi Dart Avila
south of I-80
· 3 years ago
A little less than normal turnout so far, but all & all not to bad.
the Patriot
· 3 years ago
As a Brady supporter, I have had some feedback of conservative D's crossing over for him. This was not something I expected. Although Senator Brady has said he could reach the Reagan Democrats, did not figure it to play out in the primary. Appears combination of Blago openly oposing the 2nd amendment, Judy's openly socially liberal agenda, and Oberweis caught falsely posting Mike Bost endorsed him has scared a few people into the primary for Brady. Don't know if it will be enough, but the note has to be those are traditional democrat voters who do not show up in the Repubican poll numbers so it will be a complete unknown variable.
IrishPirate
· 3 years ago
46th Ward, 9th Precinct, Uptown N Side of Chicago.
I was the 52nd voter of the day at 12:40. I was the only one there while I voted.
Lotsa signs near the polling place urging votes for Stroger and a few for my man Claypool.
If that number of votes is indicative of what is happening in Claypool country then the democratic commiteemen will get to pick a replacement for the ailing John Stroger. I gotta believe the machine wards and black wards on the south side are seeing higher turnout.
Elmer "Mr. Gop" Hoffman
· 3 years ago
Lisle precinct #38, voted at 8:30 a.m. and was the only one in the polling place. Normally I will look on top of the "votin' machine" ballot box to look at the digital display to see how many others voted. Much to my chargrin, the older style ballot collections boxes, sans the digital display, were on hand to collect my ballot. You know the good old reliable ones that leaked democratic ballots in trunks of the election judge's car on the way to the Bob Saar's people.
When I asked, "Where have the new-fangled votin' machines gone?", the election judges said they were broken and that a "technician" was on his way to fix them. My wife will vote some time later on tonight in the same precinct , and if they fix the problem, I will be sure to post the total ballots cast to see if we're trending high or low.
I'm guessing turnout will be low.
John Davis
· 3 years ago
At 12:30 still low turnout
Mangieri Claypool Dart Avila O'Brien (both)
MadCo Democrat
· 3 years ago
Nice turnout in Madison County. No. 235 in an Edwardsvile Precinct. There's nothing like a school referendum to get people off their butt's to vote. Even in the snow. Of course, most of those are Republicans voting "no" to all of it.
I see many a candidate not take advantage of school referendums during primary season. I would certainly be targetting those areas a bit harder. I know most people don't care about SW IL but, Gidwitz and Oberweis have very little presence down here. Brady will surprise today... Either way whoever wins gets runover by the Governor in November.
RichlandGOPlady
· 3 years ago
Snow fall was only about an inch in Richland and Clay counties. The weather should not have so much effect here...could this be good for the Brady and Oberweis campaigns? They have several supporters in this area.
Pat Hickey
· 3 years ago
Voted at the 23rd. Precinct of the 19thWard at 6AM. Light turnout. EE Stroger Dart Giannoulias John T. Kelly assorted judicial candidates - Thoams Byrne, Dooling & etc.
Anon
· 3 years ago
Voted at 8:30 a.m. in Bolingbrook, DuPage Township Precinct 20 to be exact.
I was number 39. Number seemed a little up compared to the last election, but it could be people just got out earlier this time around.
At the last minute, I changed my vote from Topinka to Brady. I have a feeling that lots of people will be doing the same, changing from some candidate to a different candidate.
Cook Voter
· 3 years ago
I voted at 8:30 this morning and was 34th person voting...quite sad for that time of day. The touch screen machine was not working, they had a repair man in there trying to fix it. I guess everyone was right...turnout is going to be simply pathetic.
Bluto
· 3 years ago
Just voted at 12:30 in Antioch (Lake County)my precinct is one of three in thie polling place. As of that time they had 315 total voters or about 105 per pct. Total reg is about 900 per pct so that is about 12% tunrout half way through. I did talk to judges and they said they had approx 30 - 50 early ballots per pct to add in at end of day, so including those we are looking at a turnout of around 17-18% per precicnt.
On the ballot was a major school referendum as well as races for 8th congressional, and state senate - Geo!.
Not sure what it all means, I guess we will find out later tonight.
babs
· 3 years ago
Voted 1:30 - Chicago northwest side. # 70. All machines were working. An aside, if you have the large paper ballot and want to vote anon, simply ask for the privacy sheet. It covers the ballot until it's in the slot. EE, Dart, Mangieri, Claypool. Heading out to work precinct for rest of afternoon. (I took the over on an EE bet. Hope he gets enough votes to put a good scare into Rod...) Good luck to all.
kdruben
· 3 years ago
If turnout is strong in areas that are good for Geo, then that bodes well for Churchill as well...
Oh, please...
· 3 years ago
They are pushing Claypool BIG in my northside ward. I probably recieved around 10 robocalls on behalf of Claypool, from the likes of Jan Schakowsky, Dawn Clark Netch, etc. But I can't take the hypocritical "reformer" crap Claypool has been spouting off - I went old school and voted for Stroger.
Hizzoner
· 3 years ago
I agree with Babs, I hope EE gets enough votes to wake-up old Blago. Prediction: Stoger over Claypool Mangeri over Alexi
Bluto
· 3 years ago
The turnout won't necessarily help Churchill, big push for McSweeney among the GOP Organization and village officers going for Salvi.
Anon
· 3 years ago
As of 3 pm, only 10% of registered voters in our SE Evanston precinct had shown up at the polls. The robocalls for Claypool have gone beyond annoying: Adlai Stevenson & Dawn Clark Netsch?? What's next, Banquo's ghost???
Bob Vick
· 3 years ago
La Salle County: Light turnout.
Bill Shakespeare
· 3 years ago
Banquo's ghost endorsed Forest Birnam.
NW Side
· 3 years ago
I voted a few minutes ago and there was a low turnout and no line, there was a Stroger person, Giannoulias palmer, Avila palmer, and one judge. I voted that way.
Making The Wheels Turn
· 3 years ago
Kane County. Campton Township (1 precinct at the school). Solid Republican area. Using (1st time) new Hart InterCivic eVote machines (3 in our precinct).
Hart just got this system approved by the IL SBE about a month or so ago, and this thing was EXPENSIVE to boot.
It was SLOW compared to punch cards (everybody was taking 3-4 minutes at minimum). Voted around 2 PM this afternoon, we were running a steady 7 to 10 voters all the time (3 voting; 4 to 7 waiting in line). Glad I voted this afternoon, if I had waited around to 4:30 or later, it's going to be a 20 to 30 minute wait.
Jack C. (our useless County Clerk) better have more stations at the polling places for the General, because otherwise there's a real likelyhood of court orders keeping the polls open later. I'm sure he'll be all in favor of doing that - he likes to spend our taxpayer money like a drunken sailor.
Not impressed for the money Kane County spent on this gold plated system, I can see where this system will give the phrase "hurry up & wait" a whole new meaning.
ChicagoDems
· 3 years ago
Remus has a freakin army out there
McLean Co ite
· 3 years ago
At noon turnout in Empire Township (Village of LeRoy) was 12-percent of registered voters, and Gridley Township (northern McLean Co) was 15-percent, making a 30-percent overall turnout for the day achievable in McLean Co. That's comparable to the last two primaries. So wx doesn't seem to be playing a big part.
Southern Illinois Democrat
· 3 years ago
My parents voted in Fayette County in a small reural precinct (About 350 registered voters) at 4:00. They were #'s 38 and 39. We had about 5 inches of snow. I think tuenout will be light in this area and it will benefit EE on the Dem side and Brady and Obie on the Repub side.
NumbersGuy
· 3 years ago
Turnout in SW Spfld also looking better. I vote at the K of C (which covers five-six precincts) and judges say the pace has picked up steadily since noon. Touch-screen worked great, roads are fine. Tornado-related dislocations may still affect SPI more than WX. Sangamon County Clerk reports 1800 early or absentee votes. No turnout guesstimates yet; imho, we will be below average.
Beowulf
· 3 years ago
My precinct with 748 registered voters in central Will County had a 13% turnout at 3 PM. A normal turnout in a general election is 20%-25% at the close of the day. My precinct does NOT have any referendums on the ballot.
I am hearing that in those townships and precincts where a school referendum is on the ballot, they are getting much heavier turnouts. It is funny how when someone is making a "direct attack" on your wallet with a school referendum, it will generate great interest and concern. However, the "stealth attack" on your wallet with the election of candidates that are more than happy to spend your taxpayer money somehow doesn't seem to generate the same amount of indignation. Seems those taxpayers prefer to pretend that this more subtle form of robbery that is taking place is merely a "hallucination".
HeKnowsBarack
· 3 years ago
Is Alexander handing free cocktails somewhere tonight?
NIEVA
· 3 years ago
Gallatin Co. has has a good turnout in most areas. We have been cold and windy but no snow. Two of my co workers said when they voted this morning the machines screwed up. The judges put their ballots in the "slot". We just hope that's not another word for republican sredder>
DirtyBob
· 3 years ago
Just voted----Blago, Mangieri, Redpath
Establishment Republican
· 3 years ago
Why is Blago having his party at a hotel and not the steel plant his father worked at?
43rd Warder
· 3 years ago
Was down in the south Cook suburbs and went to 10 polling places in Stroger country. Turnout at 4pm was between 8 and 10 percent at 9 of them and about 15% at the one at 147th & Markham (which had 3 precincts with about 2000 total voters). But as everyone has been saying, its patheticaly low everywhere in Cook (what is the saying about people getting the government they deserve....)
Its gonna be close with Stroger/Claypool. My heart says Claypool 52/48 announced by 10:30pm tonight, my head is more uncertain.
All Comments
Tweed
First one to vote in Logan County's largest precinct at 6AM. Not as much snow here in Lincoln - I would say only a couple of inches thus far. Visibility is not too bad and roads are in pretty good shape, even though all schools are closed. Turnout will be lower, but I believe more people will vote after work due to leaving earlier for work and waiting for the winds to die down. Usually here, more people vote earlier in the day, so this could be a bit different - so don't believe the exit polls today. Good luck tonite on WLS and Fox...
And while I think the new broadsheet ballots are kind of strange, if there is a manual recount, it will be obvious who the intended vote was for.
Snow and blowing have made it difficult but not as bad as they were predicting.
The snow is bad but not as bad as predicted.
For the first time in a long time, I pulled a Republican ballot. My reasoning... I know that I like most Democrats and most of the people who I like will more than likely make it through. However, there are some extremely conservative people whom I would rather not see making it through the primary. Plus, Churchill needs my support to get past Salvi and McSweeney up here...
The weather up here is not as bad as down south, but is still pretty nasty. It was bad enough with the cold and the wind to walk two blocks to vote. I'm not sure I would have gone much farther.
Last minute choices: I went with the two Greeks, Alexi and Alscot (spelling?). Alexi was the tough call. I like somebody with banking experience, but I am not convinced that he is the best choice. Illinois is filled with bankers. Aren't any of them Democrats? With regard to the other Greek [Alscot], Danny Davis needs a wake up call. He's got a big district and the people on the east end should also be remembered.
Sorry you voted early and missed out on the carnage of late in the Giannoulias camp, I guess we know the kid got one vote.
Somehow I'd feel better if he had said "anything" instead of just "party money."
At that time, 15 D votes, 8 R votes. Once "rush hour" is over, few votes until eve. rush. Polling place empty; same place in 2004 had lines outside the door to vote.
The signs seem to be mostly gone this morning -- it is garbage day in Arlington.
(Hint: don't put a Dem trial lawyer's yard signs in front of homes which willingly hosted Alan Keyes signs last year... tends to get the right-wing base in a lather.)
Saw some good coverage for Claypool and Avila in my neighborhood
In any case, if all goes well (what are the odds of that happening?), the home of Obiewon will be the first county to give complete results. We have been told that after the two receiving stations download their computer cards (I'm a tally judge tonight), the results are tabulated and put on the web page (http://www.kanecountyelections.org/ElectionResu... ) by 7:45 pm.
If the Obiemeister doesn't win up here with 60% in his own county, then put a fork in him everywhere else, as he is finished.
javascript:newVideo('032006/032006_sr_brown','Special_Report','Age%20a%20Liability%3F','Politics','-1');
Inside my precinct polling place, a Junior High gymnasium, it was quiet. Election judges chatted about coming vacations, march madness, or the weather. My dear wife, a recently retired teacher, smiled up at me from her first election judge position. I asked how the early-morning voting was going, knowing this non-presidential Primary would likely draw few voters to the polls. She confirmed my suspicon, indicating that just a couple-dozen Republicans and no Democrats had braved the chilly winds to exercise their citizen franchise. The three other precincts looked equally sleepy.
The only item of interest to me was a devolping standoff in campaign-sign placement. A worker from an opposition 53rd District State Rep campaign had dared to place his candidate's sign in front of my favored Scott Bludorn sign. I judiciously repositioned Scott's sign to afford one more view for entering voters. I hope that puts an end to the campaign-sign controversey, but stay tuned, this could turn ugly ;)
OUR voting machines will not jam madam. They are state of the art electronic marvels. You push a button and "voila," through the magic of electronics your vote has been tabulated, recorded, and stored.
As for Mr. Bluefish - each county produces its own method of voting. Blago had nothing to do with the contract. We independently found a vendor and got a very fair and honest price. Just ask our County Clerk the next time you see him in his white, stretch-limo.
Snow had stopped earlier this morning. The town plowed and salted the main streets only and school in both Normal and Bloomington was cancelled. It is snowing again and there is some wind but not as bad as earlier. Don't know about rural roads.
I voted for JBT, Birkett, Emery (sheriff candidate, the only contested race locally). Sheriff candidate who wins the primary does not have an opponent on the Dem ballot. Sorry, but I have worked with Brady since '92 and I am not that impressed. He will be state senator until he doesn't want it.
Mark, Sequoia Systems is based in California. Ahnold hasn't seceded yet so rest easy. And what does the ethnicity of the county worker have to do with anything???
I'm Irish-German-Czech -- does that mean I shouldn't vote? Bah humbug.
Salad fork or dinner fork... or a spork since it's easier for eating all that free (bribery?) ice cream?
Why is it that I see more Uberweis ice cream shoppes after every election cycle? Could it be that he runs every election cycle?
I thought Bludorn was a Libertarian? Though I s'pose with Bludo in the GOP primary now that makes Sid a right-wing Democrat.
the "County worker" is a County CONTRACTOR...
ethnicity of the CONTRACTOR matters A LOT...
1) think "American jobs going overseas... courtesy of Cook County.
2) an NON-US citizen handeling ballots?
About thirty years ago, a friend asked for a Democrat ballot at a rural polling place here in McLean County. Her then mother-in-law (an election judge!) got upset and told her that a Smith (an alias) NEVER votes Democrat. My friend held her ground and insisted on a Democrat ballot to vote. Reluctantly, the judges gave her a Democrat ballot.
My friend has remarried--to a Republican precinct committeeman! She says she often cancels out his vote during a general election.
A colleague of mine lives in Flanagan. The family moved there from Kankakee. The first time he voted in a primary and asked for Democrat ballot, he said that they had to look around to find him a ballot, dusted it off and gave it to him. I think he was kidding, surely they gave the polling place at least a couple of Dem ballots.
voted for
Blago
Garza....Sandoval must go!!
Gionnnolaus
John Kelly...Lipinski insulted voters with his manipulation
Dart
Claypool
other parts of Sangamon including the east side is very low. Could be interesting for the State Rep. and Sheriff race
Alexi
Dart
Avila
I was the 52nd voter of the day at 12:40. I was the only one there while I voted.
Lotsa signs near the polling place urging votes for Stroger and a few for my man Claypool.
If that number of votes is indicative of what is happening in Claypool country then the democratic commiteemen will get to pick a replacement for the ailing John Stroger. I gotta believe the machine wards and black wards on the south side are seeing higher turnout.
When I asked, "Where have the new-fangled votin' machines gone?", the election judges said they were broken and that a "technician" was on his way to fix them. My wife will vote some time later on tonight in the same precinct , and if they fix the problem, I will be sure to post the total ballots cast to see if we're trending high or low.
I'm guessing turnout will be low.
Mangieri
Claypool
Dart
Avila
O'Brien (both)
I see many a candidate not take advantage of school referendums during primary season. I would certainly be targetting those areas a bit harder.
I know most people don't care about SW IL but, Gidwitz and Oberweis have very little presence down here. Brady will surprise today...
Either way whoever wins gets runover by the Governor in November.
EE
Stroger
Dart
Giannoulias
John T. Kelly
assorted judicial candidates - Thoams Byrne, Dooling & etc.
I was number 39. Number seemed a little up compared to the last election, but it could be people just got out earlier this time around.
At the last minute, I changed my vote from Topinka to Brady. I have a feeling that lots of people will be doing the same, changing from some candidate to a different candidate.
On the ballot was a major school referendum as well as races for 8th congressional, and state senate - Geo!.
Not sure what it all means, I guess we will find out later tonight.
Stoger over Claypool
Mangeri over Alexi
Hart just got this system approved by the IL SBE about a month or so ago, and this thing was EXPENSIVE to boot.
It was SLOW compared to punch cards (everybody was taking 3-4 minutes at minimum). Voted around 2 PM this afternoon, we were running a steady 7 to 10 voters all the time (3 voting; 4 to 7 waiting in line). Glad I voted this afternoon, if I had waited around to 4:30 or later, it's going to be a 20 to 30 minute wait.
Jack C. (our useless County Clerk) better have more stations at the polling places for the General, because otherwise there's a real likelyhood of court orders keeping the polls open later. I'm sure he'll be all in favor of doing that - he likes to spend our taxpayer money like a drunken sailor.
Not impressed for the money Kane County spent on this gold plated system, I can see where this system will give the phrase "hurry up & wait" a whole new meaning.
Sangamon County Clerk reports 1800 early or absentee votes. No turnout guesstimates yet; imho, we will be below average.
I am hearing that in those townships and precincts where a school referendum is on the ballot, they are getting much heavier turnouts. It is funny how when someone is making a "direct attack" on your wallet with a school referendum, it will generate great interest and concern. However, the "stealth attack" on your wallet with the election of candidates that are more than happy to spend your taxpayer money somehow doesn't seem to generate the same amount of indignation. Seems those taxpayers prefer to pretend that this more subtle form of robbery that is taking place is merely a "hallucination".
Its gonna be close with Stroger/Claypool. My heart says Claypool 52/48 announced by 10:30pm tonight, my head is more uncertain.