We’re glad it’s not our job to predict voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary.
“What?” you say. “There’s an election on Tuesday?”
Yes, so after you drop the kids off for swimming lessons or summer camp, make sure to swing by your polling place to help determine the individuals who will represent their parties in the November general election.
“Is there always an election in June?” you might be wondering.
No. The Illinois primary typically takes place in March, but legislators last year voted to delay it in part because they were waiting for late 2020 Census data to finish revisions on new district boundaries.
Speaking of new district boundaries, almost all Hinsdale residents are now part of the 4th Congressional District. Neither the Democrat (Jesus “Chuy” Garcia) or the Republican (James Falakos) candidates have a primary opponent.
Residents also will vote for candidates running for the U.S. Senate, Illinois House and Senate and a host of county offices, including county board. Hinsdale’s Greg Hart is competing with Pete DiCianni for the Republican nomination for DuPage County Board Chairman. Hinsdalean Kari Galassi is one of three Republican candidates who are uncontested in the primary, as three District 3 county board seats will be up for election this fall.
Galassi expressed some concerns in a June 2 article that the new primary date might catch voters off guard and result in lower voter turnout.
We certainly hope that is not the case, as voter turnout in DuPage County has been fairly abysmal over the past 10 years. It hovered around 20 percent in 2012 and 2014 before spiking to almost 51 percent in 2016, when two well-known candidates — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — were seeking their party’s nomination to run for president.
Far fewer voters headed to the polls in 2018, when turnout was just under 25 percent. A few more showed up in 2020, for turnout of just over 25 percent.
Interested in voting but need more information?
DuPage County voters can check their registration status and view a sample ballot online by visiting https://www.dupagecounty.gov/election.
Early voting for DuPage County residents continues through Saturday, June 25, at Hinsdale Village Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Early voting is available through Monday, June 27, at Yorktown Center, 312 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Cook County voters can visit https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov to check registration status and view a list of candidates.
Early voting for Cook County residents is available through June 27 at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave .; Hodgkins Village Hall, 8990 Lyons St .; and Lyons Village Hall, 4200 Lawndale Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Polls will be open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Make your vote count!
