Obama Mania Fails to Ignite A Large Increase in Voter Registration in Illinois

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

About 7.17 million Illinoisans registered to vote in the Feb. 5 primary election, a slight increase from four years ago, the State Board of Elections said Thursday.

Registration is up by nearly 34,000 registered voters, or about half a percentage point.

Cook County saw a slight decrease from 2004, while four of the five collar counties recorded significant gains.

Kane County's voter registration numbers jumped more than 39,000, or 17 percent. Will, Lake and McHenry counties had increases of about 11 percent, 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

But registration in DuPage County dropped nearly 48,000, or 8 percent.

The Illinois primary is Feb. 5, six weeks earlier than in 2004. State lawmakers moved the date up to boost Sen. Barack Obama's presidential chances.

Obama's from Cook County just in case you forgot.