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Election Day in the suburbs
Jim Keefe brought along his daughter James while he voted Tuesday at Park Ridge City Hall. | Jon Durr~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 7, 2012 2:08PM
Cold air and a rainy afternoon appear to be making no difference: Buffalo Grove residents of every demographic poured into voting centers.
The top issue on most of their minds appears to be the economy, voters said, and which presidential candidate has the best chance of improving it. Local issues and races, they added, were less significant of a draw Tuesday.
Amy Knowling, a resident of Buffalo Grove’s Cook County side who cast her ballot at Kingswood United Methodist Church, said there were no matters in the village that concerned her. She came out to vote for Democratic presidential incumbent Barack Obama, and his plan for America’s economy.
“I’m hoping he will finish the job,” Knowling said.
Nancy Weiss, who said she has been voting for the past 77 years, said she just had to “go with her heart” on this election.
“I’m worried, I’m worried,” the Deerfield resident said at the Patty Turner Center polling place. “I think it’s going to be close. I don’t know which way is good, I just went with what I’ve been all my life.”
At the Oak Brook Golf Club in Oak Brook, election judge Scott Martenson said voter turnout was the largest he’s seen in 12 years working elections.
“It’s been pretty steady all day, especially in the morning when it was really crowded,” Martenson said. “I think so many people are voting today because things are sol polarized now. We haven’t had any problems; I’m happy to see the civility.”
Oak Brook resident Bob Hesotian, 62, said this is the most important election in which he has voted.
“I’ve been voting for 40 years, and this is the most important one because we need to get the guy out of office who’s in there now,” Hesotian said. “He has his own agenda, and the next four years will be even worse if we don’t get him out.”
Although some voters entered booths with long-formed decisions, others said they were still unsure who’s number to punch.
“I’m still undecided. I’ll make my decision when I get the ballot,” said South Barrington resident Hemal Nayak, who was getting ready to cast his vote at the Willow Creek Community Church.
Nayak said he was a registered Democrat, but didn’t plan to select a strictly Democratic ticket.
“I want to vote for whom I think is best,” he said.
Other voters said they had followed campaigns and made their decisions well before Election Day.
“It’s a straight Republican vote for me,” said Lake Zurich resident Diane Kalandra, who was casting her vote at the Ela Area Public Library.
At Deerfield’s St. Gregory Episcopal Church, the number of voters held steady in and out of the doors. Deborah Rubens said the weather was “absolutely” not an issue for her.
“I just think this election is huge and I definitely was getting out here to vote,” Rubens said. “I think voting is important regardless, but this one more so than all of them.”
But not all voters were enthusiastic about casting votes. Instead, they were happy a long election season is nearly over.
Joe Karel, of Deerfield, said he was walking into the poll not knowing who to vote for.
“I’m glad it’s over with, but the problem is, you can vote today, but not going to know the effects of your voting for some time,” Karel said. “To me, it’s all kind of a roll of the dice right now.”
