Illinois Has Highest Number Of Registered Voters Since 1970

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois election officials say the number of registered active voters in the state is at its highest since 1970.

Illinois State Board of Election spokesman Jim Tenuto said Tuesday morning that there are 7.9 million registered active voters in the state. That's more than the 7.8 million who were registered in 2008 before then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois successfully ran for president. That number was the previous high.

Tenuto says that number will likely tip over 8 million before Election Day on Nov. 8. He says 62,000 people registered online over the weekend and the applications haven't been processed yet.

Illinois has grace period voter registration. That means voters can register through Election Day but they must cast a ballot when they register.

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