5 open congressional seats could help drive higher voter turnout for March primary in Illinois

CHICAGO (WLS) — Five open congressional seats could be a driving force for higher than usual voter turnout for the March primary this year.

But there are some other factors that could also play a role in a more engaged electorate.

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The Chicago Board of Elections records show that the average turnout for the past five midterm primaries has been just over 26 percent, meaning the vast majority of registered voters don’t even bother to cast a ballot.

The League of Women Voters thinks it could be much better this year.

Early voting for the primary does not begin for nearly three weeks, but already there are indications that more voters will go to the polls this spring than usual.

“We are seeing the public engaged in politics like never before, at least in my lifetime. For better or worse, politics has become our national entertainment,” said Becky Simon, president of the Illinois League of Women Voters.

Simon says the No Kings rallies last October across the state are one indicator to her that people are politically aware and interested.

“When I see that many people turning out, taking time out of their day to go and march in public, that tells me they’re going to turn up at the polls this spring,” Simon said.

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“I think, for the Democratic Party and Democratic Party voters, the Trump factor is going to be at play. That’s going to be major. There are a lot of people that had to deal with Trump’s policies and with Trump’s direction, and they’re gonna want to see change,” ABC7 Chicago political analyst Laura Washington said.

This election also has a number of important congressional seats up for grabs, drawing a lot of interest.

For the open U.S. Senate seat, there are 10 Democrats on the ballot and six Republicans.

In the four open House seats, all in Democrat-controlled districts around Chicago, there are between eight and 15 Democratic candidates running.

“People are going to be excited about that. People are going to be focused on all those races. That’s going to bring up interest and get more people out to the polls,” Washington said.

Four years ago, the statewide voter turnout in the primary was under 22%, meaning that nearly four out of every five registered voters did not cast a ballot.

“If I were a betting person, and I’m not, I would aim for 35 to 40% for the spring, fingers crossed,” Simon said.

There is still time to request a mail-in ballot for those who want to, and the Chicago Board of Elections will begin sending those out on Feb. 5.

The primary is March 17.

There will be a new early voting super site in the Loop.

It’s at 137 S. State St., which is at State and Adams streets.

This will replace the super site at Clark and Lake streets, which was converted to a REAL ID site.

Downtown Chicago early voting for the March primary starts on Feb. 12.