Voter turnout numbers in last week’s primary elections show limited change from previous years:

Voter turnout Tuesday was greater than 2022’s midterm primary in suburban Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, but lower than four years ago in Lake, McHenry and Will counties…

DuPage County is currently reporting the highest turnout level at 24.6%, which could increase when mail-in stragglers are eventually reported. In the 2022 midterm primary, DuPage was the only county with more than 20% turnout among the suburban collar counties…

Lake County had the lowest voter turnout in the suburbs at 17.7% Tuesday. That’s down from 18.4% in 2022…

McHenry County is currently reporting 18% voter turnout, down from 19.6% in 2022. In Will County, turnout was 19.1% Tuesday, down slightly from 19.5% in 2022.

Most of the article tries to explain why these numbers are what they are. The underlying question seems to be this: have Americans eligible to vote lost interest in voting? About a fifth of suburban voters do so. What, if anything, would really change that number?

The apathy of suburban voters also matters because candidates will want their votes in numerous elections in November and in 2028. In plenty of states, suburbanites will determine elections because of the number of people who live in such places and the presence of both Democrats and Republicans.

Of course, in later races that are not really contested, these low turnout primary votes then set who will win the November election. To not vote in some primaries means voters will have limited choices in November.