They Got Out and Voted: Southland Voters Sound Off on the Prez and Congress

throughout the area, many south suburban residents cast ballots because of races for the GOP presidential nomination and congressional districts that were redrawn last year.

For some voters, their selection in the Republican presidential primary was a matter of finding "the least of all evils." Stephen Buretz, of Frankfort, said that man was Rick Santorum.

"I don't know," Buretz said. "He was the best of the worst. I wasn't decided until I stepped up there."

election judge Barbara Lavey said she thinks the primary's turnout was hampered by voters having to declare their candidacy. She also said she believed that many democrats didn't feel they had to show up at the ballot box.

"It's annoying, but it's true," she said at the in Tinley, which was a polling place for precincts 22 and 67.

Electability played a major factor in voters' considerations, with many believing Mitt Romney would be the candidate most likely to defeat President Barack Obama in the General Election.

"I just think he would beat Obama," Bob Karpel, of New Lenox, said at the polling place. "Obama has no economic background."

Shane Rutledge, of Oak Forest, voted for Ron Paul and said he was just hoping for someone different in the White House.

"I didn't back him on all of his points, but we've both kind of have the same ideas, I think," he said. "Really, I'm just hoping for change. Not 'Change' like that, but just a different thought process from our president."

For more voter feedback, read the captions in the photos or tell us what you think in the comments below.

—Patch editors Jeff Graveline and Joe Vince contributed to this article.