Democrats Get Top Billing On November Ballot

Cook County Clerk David Orr explains how ballot position is determined.

Here is one competition in which Pres. Barack Obama has beat out probable Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Democrats were selected for the top ballot position in the Nov. 6, presidential election in a drawing conducted today by Cook County Clerk David Orr and Director of Elections Jan Kralovec. At 10 a.m. May 2, Orr displayed slips of paper with the parties' names written on them, one for Democrats and the other for Republicans. Orr and Kralovec each folded one slip of paper and inserted it into its own yellow pill bottle. The bottles were placed into a large fish bowl. Kralovec held the bowl and Orr stirred the bottles. Orr then pulled out a bottle to determine the first position, and unfolded the card reading "Democratic Party." For …

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Opposite-Sex Couples Cite Ideology, Benefits in Getting Civil Union

Cook Co. Clerk's survey shows that 65% of women plan to still marry vs. 38% of men.

The main reason that opposite-sex couples obtained a civil union was to show their support for equality and to obtain medical benefits, according to a survey released today by the Cook County Clerk’s Office. Civil unions became legal in Cook County on June 1, and are offered to both same- and opposite-sex couples. As of Sept. 19, a total of 1,470 couples had obtained a civil union license, 87 of whom were opposite-sex couples, the report said. Clerk David Orr’s office conducted a phone survey at the end of September and called all 87 of those couples. They reached a member of 46 couples, who answered seven questions. (You can read the full survey results by clicking on the PDF icon to the right.) In the first, open-ended question, people …

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Oak Parkers Near Top of Civil Union Registration List

Data shows Chicago couples claim most civil union licenses; Evanston and Oak Park lead suburbs.

More than 1,000 civil unions have been issued by the Cook County Clerk's Office since June 1, the first day civil unions became legal in Illinois.  As of Wednesday, July 27, 1,059 civil licenses have been issued in Cook County, officials said. Leading the charge are hundreds of Chicago couples — Cook County Clerk David Orr's Office said about 65 percent were residents of the city. In the suburbs, couples from the villages of Evanston and Oak Park ranked highest, with 41 licenses issued to Evanston couples and 33 issued to Oak Park couples.  Related: Nine Years Later, Oak Park PFLAG Still Advocvating Civil union licenses, while stopping short of the many protections afforded same-sex couples in a so-called traditional marriage, do offer …

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Cook County Unveils 'Transparency, Accountability' Program

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced county departments will set and track goals through the STAR system.

Cook County government, long criticized for operating with inefficiencies, is moving toward becoming more efficient by measuring the quality of its performance. Toni Preckwinkle, who became county board president last December, says it will reduce costs and streamline services.  On Thursday, Preckwinkle, standing alongside several county elected officials, released the county's first quarterly performance management report.  The purpose of the Set Targets Achieve Results (STAR) report, Preckwinkle said, is to boost accountability and lower the cost of government by setting and tracking goals for each county agency and department. "Performance management gives us the opportunity to change the culture of the County and begin a new chapter in…

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Patch Election HQ

County Clerk: Early Voting Totals Rising

Thousands of suburban Cook residents take advantage at ballot boxes.

Election officials in Cook County say participation in early voting is on the upswing, with thousands of suburban residents turning out to cast early ballots and avoid long waits on April 5. On Monday, 1,970 voters turned out to early voting, making it the highest single-day turnout this election season, officials said.  Since early voting began March 14, nearly 20,000 have turned out to take advantage.  The busiest sites? An ice rink in Wilmette, village hall in Chicago Heights and the Lemont library.  Oak Park Village Hall is clocking in with about 75o early voters, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr's website.  "People are starting to tune into the election," said Oak Park Village Clerk Teresa Powell. "It's gradually gaining …

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Patch Election HQ

Early Voting Begins Today

Eager to do your civic duty? You're in luck.

Early voting in the April 5 consolidation elections begins today and ends March 31.  "Local officials affect lives a great deal, so voter participation is crucial," Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a statement. "Government functions better when more people are heard." Here's what you'll need Voters are required to present election officials with "valid identification" before receiving a ballot. According to the clerk's office, valid forms of ID include a current driver's license, state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph. Here's where Oak Park and River Forest residents can cast early ballots. Thanks to touch screens that store different ballot types, registered voters can visit any one of suburban Cook …

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Patch Election HQ

Voting Registration Reminder

Deadline draws closer for the April 5 consolidated elections.

As we continue to cook up our election coverage here at Oak Park-River Forest Patch HQ, please consider this a public service announcement: the deadline to register to vote in the April 5 consolidated election is Tuesday, March 8.  "Voter participation in local elections is crucial if residents want to influence issues closely affecting their communities," Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a statement. "Unfortunately, less than a third of registered voters typically cast ballots in the consolidated election." (See the chart below.) How do you register? Good question. And most of the answers can be found in this accompanying YouTube video, produced by the Cook County Clerk's Office.  A few important reminders:   And if you've moved …

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Know Your Polling Place

Thousands turn out to vote early.

More than 83,000 voters in suburban Cook County took advantage of early voting, election officials said. At Oak Park Village Hall, one of 43 early voting sites in suburban Cook County, more than 2,300 people cast their ballots. Early voting wrapped up Thursday. If you missed your chance to vote early (and certainly not often), Oak Park-River Forest Patch has compiled a handy map — posted on the right side of this page — displaying the polling places and precinct information for voters on Nov. 2. Zoom in and click away. Unsure of your precinct? Simply fill out your address on the "Voter Information" page on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website. There, you can find your polling place, a sample ballot and a list of your elected officials, as…

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