Across the four wards of the Far Northwest Side, early voting jumped an average of 20 percent, according to data from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. View Full Caption File photo

PORTAGE PARK — The number of voters casting their primary election ballots before Election Day soared across the Far Northwest Side, according to records provided by Chicago elections officials.

As compared with a similar period in 2008 — the last time voters went to the polls to decide a contested presidential primary in both the Democratic and Republic parties — the number of ballots cast at early voting locations skyrocketed by an average of 20 percent, according to data from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

38th Ward

The biggest increase was in the 38th Ward, where 36 percent more ballots were cast during the first week of early voting this year as compared with the first two weeks of early voting in 2008, a comparable period, said Jim Allen, a spokesman for the board of elections.

The increase partly reflects that voters are more comfortable with early voting, Allen said.

The boom in early votes comes in the 38th Ward even though there are no local elected offices up for grabs.

Ald. Nicholas Sposato (38th) is running unopposed for Democratic committeeman, and Peter Podgorski is assured of the position of Republican committeeman. The ward includes Portage Park and Dunning.

In the race to represent the 19th District in the Illinois House, State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Jefferson Park, is unopposed in the Democratic primary. There are no candidates for that office on the Republican ballot.

In the race to represent the 10th District in the Illinois Senate, State Sen. John Mulroe, D-Jefferson Park, is unopposed in the Democratic primary. There are no candidates for that office on the Republican ballot.

The 19th Illinois House District and the 10th State Senate District also include the 45th Ward.

39th Ward

In the 39th Ward, the number of early votes cast jumped 27 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to data from the board of election commissioners.

In most of the 39th Ward, Democratic voters will pick between State Rep. John D'Amico and community activist Jac Charlier, who are vying for the Democratic party nomination in the 15th District of the Illinois House.

The ward includes parts of Forest Glen, Edgebrook and Sauganash.

Jonathan Edelman is unopposed in the Republican contest for the 15th District.

Robert Murphy — a leader of the anti-O'Hare noise group the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition — is running against Patrick Molloy for the 39th Ward Democratic committeeman post.

There are no candidates on the ballot for the ward's Republican committeeman post, but William "Bill" Miceli is running as an unofficial candidate.

In the race to represent the 8th District in the Illinois Senate, State Sen. Ira Silverstein is unopposed on the Democratic ballot. There are no candidates for that office on the Republican ballot.

41st Ward

In the 41st Ward, the number of early votes cast jumped 6 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to data from the board of election commissioners.

The ward — home to many police officers, firefighters and city employees — typically has one of the highest turnouts in Chicago. It includes Edison Park, O'Hare, Norwood Park and parts of Edgebrook.

Three candidates are running for the position of Democratic committeeman. Suburban firefighter Tim Heneghan, endorsed by the ward's Democratic organization, will face retired city employee Andrew "Andy" DeVito and Taft High School Local School Council member Goran Davidovac.

DeVito has been endorsed by Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st), whose council campaign was endorsed by the Chicago Republican Party.

State Rep. Michael McAuliffe, who represents the 20th District in the Illinois House and is the current 41st Ward Republican committeeman, is running unopposed on the Republican ballot for both jobs.

Merry Marwig, a member of the anti-O'Hare noise Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for the 20th District seat.

45th Ward

In the 45th Ward, the number of early votes cast jumped 10 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to data from the board of election commissioners.

Ald. John Arena (45th) is unopposed in his bid for re-election as 45th Ward Democratic committeeman. The ward includes Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Gladstone Park and Forest Glen.

Roisin M. Dohl is running unopposed for the position of Republican committeeman in the 45th Ward.

Early voting is available through Saturday.

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