Turnout in the general election was 78.76%, with 2,262,103 ballots cast.[4] Chicago saw 78.23% turnout (with 1,247,630 ballots cast), and suburban Cook County saw 79.42% turnout (with 1,014,473 ballots cast).[1][5]
In the 1988 Cook County Recorder of Deeds election, incumbent second-term recorder of deeds Sid Olsen, a Democrat, did not seek reelection. Democrat Harry Yourell was elected to succeed him.
In the 1988 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago election, four of the nine seats on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago board were up for election. Three were regularly scheduled elections, and one was a special election due to a vacancy.[2][1]
Pasrtisan elections were held for judgeships on the Circuit Court of Cook County due to vacancies.[1]Retention elections were also held for the Circuit Court.[1]