Republican Early Voting Up 77 Percent

Republican voters in suburban Cook County are coming out in larger numbers and represent a greater percentage of early voters for the March 20 Presidential Primary than four years ago, according to Clerk David Orr.

During the first 10 days of Early Voting, 6,270 Republican voters participated  – a 77 percent increase over the 2008 primary when 3,545 Republican ballots were cast at this stage in Early Voting, a press release from the clerk's office states.

GOP voters represent 38.1 percent of total Early Voting participation to date. In 2008 after a week and a half of Early Voting, Republican voters represented 19.6 percent of all ballots cast.

Republican Early Voting turnout is also up when compared with the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary. After 10 days of Early Voting in 2010, 3,893 GOP voters participated or 31.8 percent of total ballots cast.

More than 10,000 Democrats have cast Early Voting ballots, or 4,500 fewer than in 2008. Overall Early Voting turnout (16,470) is slightly lower than in the 2008 primary (18,079), but greater than the 2010 primary (12,223).

Orland Park Village Hall is the busiest Early Voting location, with more than 1,000 ballots cast through Wednesday. Visit cookcountyclerk.com to view Early Voting turnout by location.

In Palatine, 540 people had voted as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 9. Early voting is available at the Palatine Village Hall, 200 E. Wood St. For ballot and voting information, visit the .

Early Voting continues through March 15 at 42 suburban Cook County locations and the Clerk's downtown Chicago office, 69 W. Washington. For more information about hours and locations, please visit cookcountyclerk.com.

Information submitted by Cook County Clerk David Orr.