Voters in the south and southwest suburbs headed to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots for who they believe should be the next president.
When choosing between former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, several voters said the economy, women’s rights, immigration and Social Security were top of mind.
Norb Harper, outside Tinley Park Village Hall, said after voting he didn’t have a good feeling that the presidential race would be decided quickly.
“I hope that whatever happens today will settle everything, but I’m not so sure,” he said.
He said if election results are too close with no clear winner, “it’s gonna end up in the courts and we’ll still be in this mess.”
Illinois voters were asked to choose among candidates for 17 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, along with all of the state’s House seats and a third of the state’s Senate seats.
Voters outside many polling places were a mixed bag in terms of their vote, with many sharing they selected candidates outside of the presidential race based on political party affiliation because they were unfamiliar with many names on this election’s ballot.
Many voters were also hesitant to share which presidential candidate they voted for, or to provide their full name, saying they feared retaliation from neighbors who do not share their political beliefs.
A Homer Glen resident outside the Homer Township Public Library District said he voted mostly Democratic, but declined to share his name because, he said, many homes in his neighborhood displayed signs supporting Trump, and he worried his home might be targeted for vandalism.
Another Homer Glen woman said she voted for Trump because she supports a closed border and believes he is the only one that can take care of things.
Others were less afraid to share their political viewpoints.
Lansing resident CJ King said he was excited for the opportunity to cast his ballot for the candidate he felt best represented young adults like himself.
“I want to make sure everything is in the right hands,” said King, 28. “Although I understand some people want everything to be business orientated, at the end of the day you need good people in office”
King said those “good people,” in his view, are better seen on the Democratic ticket this election.
“I know people are talking about how (undocumented) immigrants are coming over to the country and stuff like that,” King said, citing a justification he’s heard from Trump supporters voting for he knows. “But this is America, and America has every nationality in the world here.”
Inge Turrise, a Homer Glen resident for 27 years, said she voted for Harris because she supports her policies on abortion and believes Harris advocates for women’s rights. At 75-years-old, Turrise said policies on abortion do not affect her personally, but she believes every woman should be given a choice.
A German native, Turrise also said she feels Harris is “more respected in the world.”
New Lenox voter Patrick Pate had a more simple reason for voting for Harris.
“I’m worried about the other guy. Put it that way,” Pate said outside New Lenox Village Hall.
Pate also expressed concern that Trump might slash Social Security benefits if elected, a claim echoed by Harris, whose campaign advertisements have alleged that Trump would allow insurance companies to deny coverage for preexisting conditions.
Outside of the Orland Park Civic Center, with a wind-driven rain pelting people going in to vote, Mary Ann O’Connor said she’d like to see former president Trump win big.
“I’m just sick and tired of how these Democrats have made a mess of everything,” she said.
O’Connor said she had “always been a Democrat” until a few years ago, and that “people like Obama and Biden really screwed everything up.”
“We’re just giving these immigrants a free ride and we have to pay for it all,” she said. “Trump’s gonna end all that.”
While some voters had a clear preference for who they wanted to see in the White House, others voted independently and did not support either candidate.
Carolyn Bronson, 59, of Evergreen Park, said she voted for Trump because even though “he’s a big mouth,” she feels he will more strongly represent the U.S. on a world stage. She said she sees his unpredictability as a strength when it comes to intimidating opposing international leaders .
“Other countries don’t know know how to take him. They probably think of him as a loose cannon, like ‘we don’t know if he’ll do this or that,’” Bronson said.
In contrast, Andy Horn from Frankfort said his vote usually leans more conservative. However, in this election, Horn said he does not want to see either candidate in office.
“I think it’s going to be ridiculous for the next four years either way,” he said.
For Horn, the former president’s language fueled polarization he said is harmful.
“I feel his rhetoric was too divisive in a lot of ways, and I don’t think that’s where our country should go right now, even though there’s other things I do like about him,” he said.
Still, Horn said he came out to vote Tuesday because it’s his “right” as an American citizen.
In Orland Park, voter Hector Gonzalez said he was voting for Harris but wasn’t sure she would be a good president.
“Trump just scares me, to tell the truth,” he said. “I don’t think he represents all the people but I’m just voting with my gut on this one.”
Also in Orland Park, Mallory Hickman was shepherding her two young sons as they scurrried in to vote.
“Kamala seemed a lot more mature in the debate I saw, and Trump scares me a bit,” she said.
Voters said they were not certain the results would be complete Tuesday to settle who the winner is.
“I just think it’s going to be close and we won’t know” Gonzalez said.
Election results
We will complete election coverage in Thursday’s edition. For up-to-date election results, go to www.chicagotribune.com/daily-southtown/.
