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Both the Chicago and the Cook County Board of Elections report that turnout looked good so far for Tuesday's election.

Officials are projecting at least 50 percent of Chicago voters turned out to vote in the mid-term elections.

The Chicago Board of Elections reported a 50.36 percent turnout in more than a third of the city's 2,570 precincts that had unofficial totals as of 8 p.m., spokesman James Allen said.

The unofficial totals represent Election Day voting, Early Voting, Grace Period Voting and Absentee ballots received through Saturday, Allen said. Absentee ballots received earlier this week will be added in supplemental counts that will be conducted later this week.

By the time those numbers are added, the city turnout is expected to move closer to 51 to 52 percent, Allen said.

Turnout for mid-term elections has been about 50 percent for the past 20 years in Cook County, officials said.

Cook County Board spokeswoman Courtney Greve said there were crowds in the morning and a steady flow in the afternoon.

Greve said that Cook County has also seen a lot of interest this year in early and absentee voting. The state allowed voters to cast their ballots before election day this year without needing an excuse, like being ill or out of the country on election day.

"Maybe we're heading toward some of the other states where the majority of voting is done before election day," Greve said.

Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire