From press release

CHICAGO–Early vote numbers give Democrats a clear edge, with Democrats making up more than 58 percent of early voters, compared to less than 28 percent for Republicans. As the Illinois Democratic Coordinated Campaign (ILDCC) launches its four-day, statewide Get Out the Vote blitz, these strong numbers are an indication Democratic voters are energized. Events are planned across the state from now until Tuesday, including the following locally at 308 W. State St.: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 31; and 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 1.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said: “Democrats have been working overtime to get out the vote, and strong early vote numbers prove that our efforts have paid off. It is clear that Democratic voters are fired up for this election and are heading to the polls in droves to make their voices heard. We have events planned across the state from now until Election Day to keep this momentum going and lead Illinois Democrats to victory.”

The ILDCC has organized a get-out-the-vote effort that is unprecedented in an off-year election cycle in Illinois. From now until Election Day, Democrats will hold canvasses at more than 200 locations across the state, filling more than 20,000 volunteer shifts.

DNC early vote analysis

· Thus far, 298,113 Illinois voters have cast ballots, including 174,739 Democrats (58.6 percent of voters so far) and 83,166 Republicans (27.9 percent).

· Highly Democratic Cook County is voting at one of the highest rates of any county in the state. While only 38.5 percent of all Illinois registrants are from Cook County, 43.5 percent of all ballots cast so far are from Cook County.

· In fact, there are more Democratic primary voters from Cook County who have already voted than there are Republican primary voters who have already voted in the entire state of Illinois.

· According to the latest Democratic National Committee modeling analysis incorporating these early vote returns, Alexi Giannoulias leads by more than 6 points among those who have already voted, and this lead has been growing since early voting began in Illinois two weeks ago.