Illinois voters will head to the polls Tuesday for a primary election that could reshape the state’s congressional delegation.
The ballot includes an open U.S. Senate race following the decision by Sen. Dick Durbin not to seek reelection for a sixth term, as well as five open seats in the U.S. House, the largest number of vacancies in an Illinois congressional election cycle in nearly 80 years.
Among the most prominent contests in the Democratic primary is for Durbin’s Senate seat. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rep. Robin Kelly and seven other Democrats are seeking the nomination.
At the same time, three veteran members of Illinois’ congressional delegation — Reps. Danny Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia — have announced they will retire at the end of their terms.
The five vacancies mark the largest congressional turnover in Illinois since 1948, when new districts were created following reapportionment and several members of Congress either retired or left office.
Despite the unusually competitive ballot, engagement among some younger voters appears muted.
At Columbia on Friday, March 13, the student group Columbia Votes hosted a “Party to the Polls” event to encourage students to review the ballot and vote early. Only a few students stopped by the Student Center table before organizers planned to head to the Loop’s Early Voting Super Center Site.
Early voting in Chicago continues this weekend at the Chicago Board of Elections’ Loop supersite at 191 N. Clark St. and at ward early voting locations across the city, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.
Saoirse Adams, a junior film and television major and a voter registration genius for Columbia Votes, had hoped for a better turnout.
“I understand voting is viewed as a not very relaxing activity, but we gotta remember that this is a very awesome right to have and we can party to the polls,” Adams said. “We can make it fun.”
One of the few students who checked out the table, junior fashion studies major Evelyn Perez, went to vote on her own and noted the importance of voting as a young person.
“I think every voice matters, and I think that the young voters are the ones who have all of this access to social media, to information, that previous generations did not. So it is especially important that the younger generation educates themselves so that they can convince their peers to vote,” Perez said.
Teddi Karnes, another member of Columbia Votes and a senior film and television major, said that they have been experiencing poor turnout with their past few events.
“I would like to say that that’s just because of publicity, and people are busy. But unfortunately, I do think it’s because of the burnout that we’re all feeling about politics and the world in general,” Karnes said.
Karnes added that Columbia Votes will continue to be encouraging to students, but they will be reevaluating their outreach approach and the way Columbia Votes operates.
“I honestly think a lot of the apathy, and the not caring just comes from not knowing,” Karnes said.
Columbia Votes saw more engagement during the presidential election, according to Adams, noting that people tend to overlook their local elections.
“I think voting can unfortunately be wrapped into this exclusive package almost and try to make it seem like it’s not for everyone, or try to scare you away with that amount of information. And that’s what we’re here for, is to help people siphon through that information,” Adams said.
On Tuesday, South Loop residents can cast ballots at their assigned neighborhood precinct between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., or vote at any citywide vote center, including the Loop supersite, regardless of their home ward.
For more information on who will be on the ballot, Chicago Public Media published an online voter’s guide.
Copy edited by Katie Peters
