Officials Discouraged By Very Low Turnout In Suburban Elections
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Suburban elections officials and others were disappointed by the extremely low voter turnout for this week's consolidated elections.
If you thought Chicago's 40 percent turnout on Tuesday was poor – and it was – pity the surrounding suburbs.
The Cook County Clerk's office said suburban turnout was only about 14 percent on Tuesday. McHenry County barely reached 11 percent. Lake County was little better at 11.25 percent, when the last comparable election was 15 percent.
"There are many people who are discouraged by it; local leaders. I think this election, particularly, since it involves choosing the local leaders, which have such a direct impact on people's lives," Lake County Clerk Carla Wyckoff said.
Podcast
She said the county works with civic groups to try to get young people excited about voting, and public service.
"We visit schools. We really encourage our student election judge program. We have many high school students who help us serve as election judges," she said. "We hope that what we're doing is starting the good habit early."
Wyckoff said the number of uncontested races was one reason for voter apathy.
"There were a number of races in the election this year where there was no contest. There were just as many candidates running as there were positions to be elected. There were even a few other positions where no one filed to run," she said.
Turnout was better in regions of Lake County with contested races, according to Wyckoff.
DuPage County had a 17 percent turnout, driven partly by hot races for Naperville mayor and the College of DuPage board of trustees.
