* Let’s start a fresh thread, shall we? The first one is full.
Also, we know the turnout is low, so some numbers from your polling place would be welcomed. This report from the LaSalle News Tribune was enlightening and frightening…
The four precincts at the La Salle VFW were so slow today that by 7 a.m. there were more election judges (20) on hand than people who had voted (15).
Raymond Miklavcic, an election judge at La Salle precinct 7, counted just seven voters in the door — low even by primary standards.
“It’s horribly slow,” Miklavcic said. “Primaries are normally slow, but this is ridiculous.”
Have at it.
*** UPDATE 10:53 am *** Twitter hashtag #ilvote has more updates from the front. But a lot of it is just propaganda…
TheCHICon Just cast my ballot, place was empty. Oh and they didn’t ask for ANY ID. @danproft - @hughesforsenate - lets hope for the best! #ILvote
They’re not supposed to ask for ID.
From the Tribune…
National political pundits have been busy trying to divine broad meaning from Illinois’ Groundhog Day primary, but that noisy class of professional crystal ball gazers could be in for a challenge if an early collective yawn from voters continues through the day.
City election officials said turnout for the first hour of voting was extremely low. Jim Allen, communications director for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, said there were precincts all over the city that experienced as few as two voters coming through their doors. […]
Cook County Clerk David Orr, who oversees election machinery in the suburbs, said morning turnout appeared “relatively slow,” though it was too early to make any broad projections about how things might end up by the time the polls close at 7 p.m.
“A lot of people vote late and whether or not this snowy weather will have an effect, who knows,” said Orr as he visited a precinct at the Dorchester Senior Center in Dolton. By 8:30 a.m., Orr said, 19 residents had cast ballots. While he said that’s a typical pace for that retirement village, its residents don’t have to venture outdoors to cast a ballot.
AP…
[Cook County elections spokeswoman Gail Siegel] says her office hasn’t received any complaints about a new feature on voting machines. For the first time, the machines reject incomplete ballots. That’s where someone fails to vote in one or more races for statewide office.
Election judges are asking voters if they intentionally left part of the ballot blank when the machine spots so-called “undervoting.” If not, they’ll be allowed to vote in those races. If so, the ballot will be approved.
*** UPDATE - 11:31 am *** For what it’s worth, the snow has stopped in Chicago, I’m told. Also, I hear one key Lakefront precinct reported just 6 votes this morning. Oof.
*** UPDATE - 11:46 am *** Yikes…
There were no crowds in Quincy polling places despite the close races.
“I’m not seeing any lines or crowds,” said Adams County Clerk Georgia Volm.
She visited one polling site at 7:30 a.m. where seven people had cast ballots. She was at a voting site on Sycamore at 8 a.m. and found that only seven voters had been there.
*** UPDATE - 12:10 pm *** Some of my recent “retweets“…
# Chicago_Reader RT @dansinker: sounds about right. RT @chitownpolitics: Setting over/under for turnout at 22%.
# ramsincanon If city turnout is as low as anecdotes would have you believe, @alexi4illinois could coast to 10+ point victory.
# myfoxillinois Know your voting rights http://bit.ly/clL25q
# johnfritchey I’ve been kissing hands and shaking babies all morning; not sure why people are reacting strangely. Oh. Damn. Never mind.
# dancurry Just voted for Jim Ryan, governor. Only person in polling place.
# rsamuels Mayor Daley votes at Old Saint Mary’s at 11. Alas, I shan’t be on hand for the Q&A. First time in years I’ve missed the mayoral vote.
# ramsincanon I’ve heard this from about a dozen ppl the last few days: “Quinn or Hynes? Seems like a coin toss.”
# PeoriaChronicle Only about 4 voters were at my polling place (which covers three precincts) this morning. Very low turnout.
# nbcchicago NBC’s live coverage of the primary elections begins at 4:30pm. Bookmark our livestream page: http://snipurl.com/u94c0
# BrianMcDaniel Turnout is quite low in the Collar Counties of Illinois.
# CollinCorbett Voter turnout is abysmal across the state, and it’s not just the snow. After the last 13 months what more motivation do IL voters need?!?