Some Illinoisans do not vote because, they say, their vote does not count.

“The election for president matters in Illinois for several reasons,” political science professor Andrea Bonnicksen said. “Voting in Illinois adds to the popular vote total and gives an additional sign of the winner’s legitimacy.”

She said voting for the president encourages voting in local elections.

“The presidency is one of many races. Voting for president places voters in the booth and in a position to vote for the other races, too,” she said.

Political science professor Barbara Burrell said she rejected the notion of Illinois’ voter apathy.

Votes do count, she said, but the Electoral College does decrease voter interest in the election.

“I think that everybody’s vote should count the same and they don’t,” Burrell said.

Burrell said the local elections were reason enough to vote.

Freshman elementary education major Renita Millhouse said many voters thought their votes do not count. Millhouse said she thought voting was important and she would still be voting on Election Day.

Others said they thought the suggestion that votes do not count in Illinois had negative effects on turnout.

“I think it really kills turnout. If you know the Democrats are going to win because of Chicago, why vote Republican,” senior journalism major David Conard said.

2000 presidential election results

Ill.-Gore won by 569,605 votes

Iowa-Gore won by 4,144 votes

Wisc.-Gore won by 5,708 votes

Ind.-Bush won by 343,356 votes

Mich.-Gore won by 217,279 votes

Source: Federal Election Commission