14th District to hold special election Saturday

By SAM BRUNELL

Residents have the opportunity to cast an absentee ballot or vote early in the 14th Congressional District Special Elections being held Saturday.

“I would guess people leaving campus early will come Friday,” said DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes.

Residents can pick up an absentee ballot or cast their early vote at the County Clerk’s office, 110 E. Sycamore St., until Friday.

There are only two names on the ballot for this election: Republican candidate Jim Oberweis and Democrat Bill Foster.

Holmes said because there are only two candidates on the ballot, chances are the voting turnout will be relatively low.

“There will probably be less than a 50 percent turn-out,” she said.

Both candidates appear rather confident going into Saturday’s election, despite the expected low turnout.

“Bill Foster is going into Saturday’s election with momentum,” said press secretary and spokesman for Foster’s campaign Andrew Dupuy. “The last poll showed a four-point lead over Oberweis.”

Oberweis’ campaign staff is equally confident despite the last poll.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” said Justin Shimko, assistant press secretary for Oberweis’ campaign. “A lot has changed since the last poll.”

In regard to the turnout of early voters thus far, Holmes said there have only been about 270 votes, which is extremely low.

Voters can identify their polling place for Saturday on their registration card.