DuPage County early voting hits 21.4%, outpacing state average by five points
Officials report record levels of mail and in-person participation as candidates campaign in the final 48 hours before the midterm election.
By Luka Evans ·
Voters across the Chicago area cast ballots Sunday, the last full day of early voting before the midterm election.
Election officials in DuPage County report that turnout has reached 21.4 percent, a figure that includes both early voting and returned mail ballots. This statistic is nearly five percentage points higher than the current state average. Donna Ciszczon, a DuPage County election judge supervisor, described the numbers as among the highest she has witnessed in the past decade. She noted that the surge was present in both mail-in and in-person voting channels.
In Chicago, the corresponding turnout figure stands at 13.4 percent. Ciszczon stated she was surprised by the volume of activity, calling it unusually strong for a midterm cycle. The contests on the ballot include state, local, and national races that could influence the balance of power in Congress.
Campaigners used Sunday to make final appeals to undecided voters. Governor JB Pritzker held a rally at the Apostolic Church of God, where he invoked the legacy of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. He asked supporters to keep hope alive by participating in the election. Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, who spent the day with family, previously emphasized that low turnout does not win elections. He said his team has focused its messaging on affordability, safety, and education.
Individual voters cited personal stakes in their decision to participate. Nancy Rossi, a 108-year-old resident of Wheaton, voted in person at the DuPage County Fairgrounds. She said she had stopped voting for 40 years due to disillusionment with political corruption. Her daughter, Carmine Pollack, said Rossi now believes citizens must vote if they wish to complain about outcomes. Another voter, Shaira Manning, said she wanted to ensure her vote counted for the future of her children and grandchildren.
Election officials expect activity to increase during the final two days before Election Day. They reported that Sunday brought a steady stream of people to polling locations, with shorter lines than typical for the final weekend of voting.
