McLean County Clerk projects 40-percent turnout for primary

Posted on March 11, 2016

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael expects voter turnout to be higher for next week’s primary than for the last presidential primary. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The presidential candidates are paying at least some attention to Illinois ahead of next week’s primary.

McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin she hopes that will bring more voters on the polls.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Michael on WJBC.

“Illinois is more in play this year which is generating more a lot more interest,” Michael said.

Michael is projecting a 40-percent voter turnout, based on the fact that early and absentee voting are notably higher than in the presidential primary four years ago, when 28 percent cast ballots.

“Four years before that was the first time President Obama was on the ballot and it was a 40-percent turnout in the primary,” Michael said.

Turnout approached 70 percent in each of the last two presidential elections in McLean County.

WJBC and WJBC.com will have election results after the polls close on Tuesday.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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