Chicago residents witnessed a disappointingly low voter turnout during the primary election held on March 19, 2024, according to the Chicago Board of Elections. As of noon on Election Day, only 12.21 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots, a stark contrast to the 38 percent and 54 percent turnout in the last two presidential primaries, respectively.

Max Bever, spokesperson for the Chicago Board of Elections, described the current turnout as "shockingly low," anticipating that it would most likely resemble the 2012 presidential primary, which saw a 24 percent turnout with just 315,000 ballots cast. Instead of the usual rush during the lunch break, the number of votes cast by the hour remained in the 9,000 range, compared to the expected 20,000.

The lack of lines and the abundance of empty voting booths signaled the sleepy nature of the election day. Older voters seemed to be the primary drivers of participation, with nearly 60 percent of votes cast by individuals aged 55 years or older.

One of the reasons identified for the apathetic turnout was the uncompetitive nature of the presidential primaries, which would likely result in a rematch between Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden and former Republican President Donald Trump. Many voters expressed fatigue from months of campaign advertising and felt that their choices were already predetermined.

Some voters, however, were driven to the ballot box by the referendum question regarding the "Bring Chicago Home" initiative proposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration. The initiative aimed to create a dedicated fund for homelessness prevention by increasing real estate transfer taxes. While some voters appreciated the opportunity to decide on the referendum, others felt that the effects were not adequately explained, leading to confusion and skepticism.

Election coordinator Liz Potamites expressed her disappointment with the lackluster turnout, emphasizing the importance of local elections. In general, however, people seemed to prioritize national elections over primaries.

Reports of polling site issues were minimal, with only a few locations experiencing delayed openings. A fire broke out at Nicholson STEM Academy on the South Side but did not disrupt voting in the polling area. As a precautionary measure, voters in certain precincts were redirected to alternative polling sites.

For those who had not yet voted, the city offered the option to visit any of the 50 ward sites or the Downtown supersite at 191 N. Clark St. Polls remained open until 7 p.m., and voters in line by that time were encouraged to remain to cast their ballots, although long queues were not anticipated.

The low turnout for the primary election left many dismayed, considering its significance in determining local candidates for various positions. As one voter expressed, "Because this is Chicago, the primary is our actual election."