Thousands of voters took advantage of Orland Park's early voting process for the 2010 midterm election, making the village the leader among Cook County suburbs in early voting ballots cast.

Through Thursday, the final day of early voting before the Nov. 2 election, 5,802 voters cast their ballots at the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall. Wheeling had the second-highest early turnout among Cook County suburbs, with 5,242, for the election that includes races for Illinois governor, the U.S. Senate and Cook County Commissioner in the 17^th District.

The turnout this year in Orland Park more than doubled the 2006 midterm election early voting turnout, when 2,227 voted in the election that brought Rod Blagojevich his second term in office. Just before the presidential election in 2008, 13,737 people voted early at the Orland Park Village Hall, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr's office.

The trend in Orland Park was in line with the trend in Cook County suburbs as a whole, as 83, 896 total voters filled out their ballots early, compared to 32,908 early voters in 2006.

Orr reminded voters during a news conference Monday to take time to complete the lengthy ballot on Nov. 2, which includes 65 judges up for retention. He also said several legal teams will be available throughout the day to make sure election rules are followed.

Orr also suggested absentee voters simply go to area polls if it appears they cannot send in their votes by Monday.

"That's why we went to Springfield to change the law a few years ago," Orr said. "Any absentee ballot postmarked by Monday can be counted up to two weeks after the election. But if you can't postmark by Monday, come to the polls."