By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said she’s surprised there isn’t bigger turnout because of intense media attention to some of the contested races.

Michael expects about 30 percent of registered voters in the county and the Town of Normal will have ventured to the polls, which is about what happened in the midterm primary four years ago.

“I’m surprised only because of all the ads and everyone talking about it,” said Michael.

“I thought like you that it would have ginned up more excitement. Every gubernatorial year its about 30 percent. This doesn’t look to be any different,” she added,

Michael said turnout for presidential primaries is about 50 percent, and McLean County and Normal held to form two years ago.

For Bloomington, the city’s election commission said 18 percent of the 47,832 registered voters cast ballots as of four o’clock Tuesday afternoon.

Meantime, Michael said she’s troubled about an increasing number of cases in which people illegally put up campaign signs within 100 feet of polling places after the polls opened at 6 a.m.

“I worked for Judy Baar Topinka. I knew how they planted them in the road ways and everything else and you’re seeing that more,” Michael said.

“So I don’t know if its a coordinated team that’s come down from another area or if its our locals, but I’ve never seen that many signs just like plastered out. It’s rude, on both sides,” the county clerk said.

Michael said the unlawful electioneering was limited to the statewide races, and judges in about 10 of the 70 precincts had to go outside and take down the signs.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]