Voter turnout in Chicago municipal elections declined 58% from 1987 to 2003, from 1.1 million votes to 462,605. Votes for Black candidates dropped from 591,881 to 99,554, or 83%.
Two ideas for improving turnout: (a) move elections from midwinter. Weekend elections elsewhere work well, but in any case February has the worst of Chicago’s weather. (b) Instead of 50 racially gerrymandered single-member wards, try a less parochial system: say, 10 compact (measured by perimeter/area), four-member districts. Geographically diffuse minorities would get more representation, the tyranny of local majorities would be reduced, and individual aldermen’s power over local decisions would be weakened — possibly resulting in more equitably distributed services (as city staff take control) and reducing corruption.