Through Election Day, polling places saw a relatively slow trickle of voters who waited in short lines.

Some polling place officials said they observed a smaller turnout than expected and in comparison to previous years.

Certain times saw greater rushes than others, according to voters.

“I think it’s just the time of the day that makes the turnout low right now,” said Kelli Hince, junior in AHS who voted later in the evening at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St.

Beth Wohlgemuth, an election judge at Snyder Hall and librarian for the Illinois Natural History Survey, said the rate of voters coming by fluctuated throughout the day.

“It was very quiet six to 10-ish, and then it was just consistent after that. Then we had a few rushes.” Wohlgemuth said. “I think (there was) a noon rush and then a four o’clock rush, and then we had the six o’clock rush.”

After the YMCA polling place closed, Jerome Dryam, an election judge at the YMCA, said turnout was a little lower than was anticipated, but people still came out to vote.

“Today’s turnout started out very slow, and it picked up. We actually weren’t very optimistic at the start,” Dryam said. “I wonder how these numbers play into the climate of the government of today.”

Brian Levitsky, an election judge at ISR and senior in LAS, said the midterm elections tend to see lower voter turnout in comparison to other election seasons.

He added that students are not as likely to vote as other members of the community.

“It was a midterm election, and considering it’s a residence hall mostly populated by undergraduates, it was a fairly decent turnout,” Levitsky said.

Michael Brant, election judge at the YMCA, said the morning polls were nothing like the presidential elections when there were over 1,000 voters.

“I’ve worked days slower then this, but this is probably one of the second slowest times,” Brant said.

Ann Priseland, an election judge at McKinley Foundation, said though turnout was lower the anticipated, she thought it was a “really busy day.”

“I’m very proud of the staff that I worked with. We didn’t have many problems dealing with voters much at all,” Priseland said. “I’d say we did an excellent job.”

Nora Ibrahim contributed to this report