Did You Vote?

During early voting, 1,030 Downers Grove residents cast ballots.

While the number represents a fraction of local registered voters, it was one of the highest turnouts logged by DuPage County municipalities, according to the DuPage County Elections Commission judges who staffed the site.

Without a hotly contested mayoral race at the top of the ticket, observers suggest most Downers Grove voters won't bother to weigh in on the Village Council, Park Board and District 58 and District 99 school board races.

That despite a wide field of candidates to choose from: nine who are running for three council seats, five running for four Park Board seats, four running for three District 58 seats, and five running for three District 99 seats.

In 2009, only 18.7 percent of Downers Grove registered voters exercised their right to vote. In 2007, when Ron Sandack successfully challenged incumbent Brian Krajewski for mayor, 34 percent cast ballots—a sizable turnout, but still a minority of registered voters.

General elections fare better, with more than 75 percent of DuPage County voters voting in the 2008 presidential election and 51.4 percent of county voters weighing on last November's mid-term election.

What percentage of Downers Grove voters do expect to turn out for the 2011 election? Did you vote early or do you plan on casting a ballot on April 5? Or if not, tell us why not.