Lemont Library's Early Voter Turnout Ranks Third in Suburban Cook County

With two days left in Early Voting and just one week until Election Day, Lemont voters are turning out in huge numbers.

As of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, the had 1,222 ballots cast, making it the third busiest Early Voting location in suburban Cook County (in areas with contested races), according to Cook County Clerk David Orr. The library trails only Centennial Ice Rink in Wilmette (2,774) and Chicago Heights City Hall (1,809).

The Lemont Library saw its highest early voter turnout Friday, March 25, with 133 ballots cast. From Friday to Sunday, a total of 358 early ballots were submitted.

As heads into its final days, Orr announced a high participation rate across all suburban polling places. Monday saw the greatest single day turnout so far this voting period, with 1,970 ballots cast.

Since Early Voting began March 14, more than 18,000 suburban Cook County voters have participated even though fewer than half of all races are contested, Orr said. In the last two consolidated elections, Early Voting accounted for 3 percent (8,205) and 8 percent (25,737) of ballots cast in 2007 and 2009, respectively.

Voters have until March 31 to vote early. They also have until March 31 to apply for an absentee ballot by mail. Voted ballots must be returned or postmarked by Monday, April 4.