Politics
Early Voting Expands Across Chicago, Suburban Cook County for March 17 Primary Election
Chicago voting booths are pictured in a file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
More polling places opened across the city and in suburban Cook County Monday for voters looking to cast their votes early ahead of the March 17 primary election.
Starting at 9 a.m., early voting sites opened in all of Chicago’s 50 wards. Early voting also expanded to 55 locations for suburban Cook County residents. A full list of early voting locations and hours can be found on the Chicago Board of Election’s website and the Cook County clerk’s website.
“At its core, early voting is about access,” Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said during a Monday news conference. Gordon is seeking reelection and is running unopposed in the primary. “It’s about meeting voters where they are, and giving working families, seniors, students and busy residents more options to participate in our democracy.”
Leading up to Election Day in Chicago, the early voting sites in each ward will be open:
- Monday through Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Early voting is also available downtown at the Chicago Board of Elections office, 69 W. Washington St. on the 6th floor, and at the new Board of Elections supersite, 137 S. State St.
This year, the 42nd Ward and the 44th Ward have new ward early voting sites, according to the board.
Voters in Chicago can vote at any one of the early voting sites, regardless of where they live in the city. Same-day voter registration is also available at all early voting sites. When registering to vote the same day, voters need to bring two forms of ID, one with their current address on it.
Temporary early voting locations will also open for all voters at Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University and the University of Chicago Reynolds Club between March 11-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those voting by mail can drop off their ballot at drop-off boxes at any early voting site. In light of recent changes to U.S. Postal Service postmark policy, election officials have recommended voters mail their vote-by-mail ballot at least a week before Election Day or use drop-off boxes at voting sites to ensure their ballot is counted.
“We are urging Chicago voters to vote early and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with getting your civic duty out of the way,” Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chairwoman Marisel Hernandez said during a news conference.
Read More: 2026 Primary WTTW News Voter Guide
The Board of Elections has received nearly 30,000 ballots so far since early voting began last month, compared to nearly 12,000 ballots received by the same point in the election cycle for the 2022 primary. The higher number of ballots received so far could be attributed to a number of races where incumbents aren’t running, as well as awareness of the postmark policy changes, and early voting and voting by mail starting earlier this year, according to local election officials.
During primary elections, voters vote on candidates from a political party to appear on the ballot for the general election in November. Chicago voters can choose one of the following political party ballots for the primary: Democratic, Republican and Libertarian.
Elected offices on this year’s ballot include: governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representatives, comptroller, state representatives and state senators in the General Assembly and Cook County board president.
Chicago voters can view a sample ballot on the Board of Elections’ website.
On Election Day, voters in the city can vote at their assigned precinct polling place, any one of the 50 ward early voting sites or the Board of Elections supersite downtown. Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Same-day voter registration is also available on Election Day.
Note: Story was updated with more information following a Chicago Board of Elections and Cook County Clerk’s office press conference Monday morning.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
