- Credibility:
CHICAGO — Older voters are driving early turnout in this year’s election, new data shows.
Election Day is Tuesday — but Chicagoans can already cast their ballot for mayor, alderpeople and in other races through early voting and vote-by-mail. Those options have seen unprecedented interest for a municipal election.
And so far, it’s older voters who are rushing to the ballot box. Among various age groups, voters 65-74 years old have had the highest turnout, making up 23.42 percent of voters so far, according to an elections board news release. Chicagoans 55-64 are next, making up 18.94 percent of voters.
The voters with the lowest turnout so far are those 18-24 — the smallest group of potential voters.
Here’s the breakdown:
- 18-24: 3,747 ballots cast, 2.11 percent
- 25-34: 18,821 ballots cast, 10.59 percent
- 35-44: 22,962 ballots cast, 12.92 percent
- 45-54: 22,973 ballots cast, 12.92 percent
- 55-64: 33,670 ballots cast, 18.94 percent
- 65-74: 41,641 ballots cast, 23.42 percent
- 75 and older: 33,979 ballots cast, 19.11 percent
The last municipal election, held in 2019, followed similar trends, with older Chicagoans making up the bulk of voters while younger people had lower turnout.
Younger Chicagoans have driven turnout during elections, though, especially during midterms and the 2020 presidential race, when voters had to decide on state and federal leaders.
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