CHICAGO — A measure to eliminate the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office appeared to pass overwhelmingly, according to early returns.
The referendum won about 63 percent of the vote in Chicago and suburban Cook County, according to early returns.
The duties of the Recorder of Deeds Karen Yarborough would be transferred to the office of Cook County Clerk, now led by David Orr, when the measure goes into effect in 2020.
Supporters of the move to eliminate the office in charge of documenting property records said it would save Cook County taxpayers between $800,000 and $2 million.
Yarborough was unopposed for re-election on Tuesday's ballot.
The last time county voters decided to eliminate an elected office was in 1972, when an overwhelming vote replaced the elected county coroner position an appointed medical examiner position.
In addition, 85 percent of Cook County voters approved a non-binding referendum urging the state to require all businesses to give their employees up to 40 hours of paid sick time annually, according to early returns.
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