2.1 million already voted
More than 2.1 million registered Illinois voters have already cast their ballot for the Nov. 5 general election.
Data from the Illinois State Board of Elections available Monday morning shows of the nearly 1.3 million voters that requested a ballot by mail, 758,000 have already returned those. Early voters total more than 1.3 million.
There are 8 million registered voters in Illinois.
Madigan trial continues
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial continues into its 16th day.
Former Madigan staff member Will Cousineau is back on the witness stand for cross-examination by defense counsel. Illinois professor Dick Simpson could take the stand this afternoon to explain to the jury how Chicago’s political system operates.
Disaster declared
USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack issued a disaster declaration for three Illinois counties due to losses caused by tornadoes that occurred earlier this year.
Tornadoes struck Marshall and Putnam counties July 14 and 15, and Henry County on July 15. A secretarial natural disaster designation allows the USDA Farm Service Agency to provide emergency loans to producers recovering from natural disasters.
