From the Beacon News:

900 cast early ballots

• Low Kendall turnout forecast: Clerk hears of few hot-button issues

November 6, 2006
By MATTHEW DEFOUR Staff writer

YORKVILLE -- Early voting in Kendall County increased only slightly from the March primary, which may foretell a depressed turnout in Tuesday's election.

About 900 early ballots were cast at the county administration building in Yorkville between Oct. 16 and Nov. 3. Another 500 absentee ballots were filed.

That's up a tick from the 800 early votes cast in the March primary, which was the first opportunity in Kendall and across Illinois to vote before election day. About 300 absentee ballots were filed in March.

Though general elections always draw more voters than the primary, this year's primary featured a contentious Republican race for state's attorney. More than 17,000 people, or 34 percent of registered voters, cast a ballot in Kendall County in March.

County Clerk Paul Anderson, an Oswego resident, said he's heard some buzz about the Oswego School District referendum, but otherwise he hasn't "heard a lot of interest about anything else on the ballot."

This year, the Democrats have slated five candidates for the Kendall County Board, though Republicans historically have never lost a countywide election. Also on the ballot are referendums for a county sales tax increase for transportation projects and a special property tax levy for Kendall County veterans.

Anderson said he was surprised early voting wasn't higher, though he couldn't say if it reflected voter apathy, the absence of a contentious race or increased early voting in March because the option was new.

He added that voter turnout in the 2002 midterm election, which like this year also featured a gubernatorial race, but not a presidential election, was about 46 percent.

"I think we're going to be in that ball park again this time," Anderson said.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++