Voters like Mary Bruno of Vernon Hills, Efrem Lee of Waukegan and Lincolnshire Mayor Liz Brandt have different reasons for voting early but they all made sure their ballots were cast nearly three weeks before the April 1 election.
Though they all live in different parts of the county there is a common thread to their reasoning for voting on the second day early voting in Lake County—the importance of a democratic government and supporting it.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Lee said after voting with his wife, Penelope Lee. “Anything can get in the way. If I have a problem or get hit buy a stray bullet, my vote is going to be counted.”
Bruno said she and her husband, Paul Bruno, are election judges and must vote before election day so they are free to work on April 1.
“It seems like the least we can do to preserve our democracy,” Paul Bruno said.
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Brandt was reelected two years ago and is not on the ballot April 1. But she quickly listed every contested race in her hometown and the importance of voting. She gave no indication of her choices.
“I always vote early,” Brandt said. “Local elections are really important because they impact your life tremendously.”
Brandt, the Brunos and the Lees are among the 93 Lake County voters who cast their ballots for the April 1 local election since early voting began Friday at the Lake County Courthouse & Administration Building in Waukegan. Depending on where they live, voters will be choosing mayors, village presidents, legislators, township officials, school board members, park district commissioners and library trustees.
Along with putting people into office, voters who live in Winthrop Harbor or within the Lincolnshire Riverwoods Fire Protection District will vote on referendums which will impact their property taxes.
Though 38 of the 58 people who voted Friday live in Waukegan Township. There were six ballots from Warren Township, five from Shields Township and the rest from six other parts of the county from Antioch to Highland Park.
Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega echoed Brandt’s feelings about the importance of local elections. With turnout traditionally low following a presidential contest, he said people need to realize the significance of choosing a mayor or township supervisor.
“It’s important we have civic education and more people get involved so we can increase the turnout,” Vega said.
Four years ago, less the 10% of Waukegan’s registered voters chose the city’s mayor. Unlike nearly all municipalities in the county that have a city or village manager, the mayors in Waukegan and North Chicago are the town’s chief executive. Waukegan has not reelected a mayor since 2003. Vega said the lack of consistency is not helpful.
“It shows voters haven’t found a mayor who can unite the city,” Vega said. “They can choose (this year) between a current mayor (Ann Taylor), a former mayor (Sam Cunningham), a sitting alderman (Keith Turner, 6th Ward) and a former alderman (Harold Beadling, 4th Ward). The voters are the ones who hold the future of their city in their hands.”
Vega said voters will be able to vote at any polling place in the county on April 1. They will be assigned a preferred site near their home, but it is no longer an election day requirement. If it is more convenient to vote closer to work, that is now possible.
“If they want to vote near their workplace or their child’s daycare center, they can,” Vega said. “Or if they’re driving along and see the classic yellow sign (designated a polling place), they can stop there and vote.”
Early continues between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Lake County courthouse through Friday. It expands to 17 other sites on March 17 and continues at some of the locations through March 31. A complete list of locations and times are available on the Lake County Clerk’s website.