By a near two-to-one margin, city voters elected Tuesday to abolish Evanston Township.

With 44 of 53 precincts reporting, 63.23 percent of more than 7,500 voters had chosen to support the referendum to abolish the township.

The township, which has the same boundaries as the city of Evanston, provides tax advice to residents and general assistance to the needy. The referendum was subject to lengthy debate. Advocates argued it was not providing the necessary assistance and would save money if abolished, and opponents said the city is not prepared to absorb the township services.

Under Illinois law, all township services will be transferred to the municipal government. Two years ago, a similar ratio of voters elected to pursue dissolution in a nonbinding referendum.

In other Illinois elections, Republican candidate Bruce Rauner won a primary to challenge Gov. Pat Quinn in November, as did state Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-North Aurora), who will run against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.

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