Approximately 13,000 Evanston residents cast ballots in last Tuesday’s municipal elections, a drop in voter turnout since the 2017 election, City Clerk Devon Reid said at City Council Monday night. This year, around 25 percent of the city’s registered voters cast a ballot a 5 percent increase from the voter turnout in the February.
After months of campaigning, and a tumultuous final four weeks leading up to the generals, Evanston’s 2021 municipal elections came to a close Tuesday night.
When the dust settled, City Council saw three new aldermen emerge with a potential fourth leading in a race that remains too close to call.
As of Wednesday night, the margin of victory in three races is within 100 votes. Candidates in the 1st, 2nd and 8th wards are waiting as remaining mail-in ballots trickle in, votes that could decide the race. Approximately 3,000 mail-in ballots were sent out to residents, and those votes can be postmarked as late as April 6, meaning some may still be in transit.
Devon Reid has a slight lead in the 8th Ward aldermanic race with just over 52 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results from the Cook County Clerk’s Office with all precincts reporting.
Reid, who currently serves as City Clerk, faced off against Ridgeville Park District Commissioner Matthew Mitchell Tuesday. Mitchell, so far, is trailing his opponent with 47.81 percent of votes counted a margin of just 46 votes.
Reid has a background as a political consultant and community organizer, and prioritized transparency, community involvement and equity in his campaign. Mitchell, an attorney with over ten years of experience in criminal justice, ran with a focus on policing, equity and sustainability.
Tight races in some Evanston aldermanic contests as mix of incumbents and newcomers hold leads chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Everything you need to know about Evanston’s April 6 election
Tuesday marks the culmination of a controversial and contentious election season that began in November and has the potential to bring in an entirely new City Council. There are 30 combined candidates vying for aldermanic, city clerk and school board seats.
Polling places across the city will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents can find their polling locations through the Cook County Clerk’s Office website. Find more voting information here.
The ballot will include nine aldermanic races, a city clerk race and two school board races.