Crossover voting in Chicago

Crossover voting is the action of casting a vote for a candidate belonging to a political party with which one is not typically associated. Voting is an individual choice, and there are many dimensions that factor into one’s ballot choices. Against the backdrop of the 2024 presidential primary season, the Harris Poll surveyed a representative sample of Cook County, IL residents regarding the factors that may influence their voting decisions ahead of the state’s primary on March 19.

Despite not being a widespread phenomenon throughout recent electoral history, roughly 1 in 3 (36%) Cook County residents report that they are at least somewhat likely to participate in crossover voting in Illinois’ upcoming presidential primary election, compared to 44% who report being at least somewhat unlikely to, 13% unsure, and 6% who do not plan to vote in the primary. This reflects consideration and does not guarantee subsequent action.

Why would someone consider voting for a candidate representing a party with which he/she is not typically aligned? There are many potential reasons:

• 37% of those at least somewhat likely to participate in crossover voting cited “wanting to promote an opposing candidate that I think is more fit for office than the leading opposing candidate”
• 28% of the same report doing so because “I am confident that my preferred candidate will win my party’s primary election”
• 24% cite “not strongly identifying with my registered party”
• 20% say it’s because “I don’t support my party’s candidate(s)”
• 19% want “to promote the opposing candidate least likely to beat my party’s nominee”
• 16% say “my preferred candidate doesn’t appear on the ballot (e.g., independent, write-in)”
• 9% say “the primary election doesn’t matter to me”
• 7% consider crossover voting for other reasons

Interestingly, 37% of all Cook County residents report being familiar with the concept of crossover voting at the time of the survey (with 63% reporting they were not familiar), and a nearly identical number supporting the action of crossover voting during a presidential primary election (38% net support, with 41% neutral, 13% opposed to the practice, and 7% unsure).

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from December 6, 2023 to December 13, 2023 among 1,009 Cook County, IL residents, aged 18+. Figures were weighted where necessary to align with actual proportions within the population. For additional information, please contact The Harris Poll.

This survey was run prior to the February 28th decision by Cook County Judge Tracie Porter to disqualify Donald Trump from the Illinois Primary ballot.