Politics
In-Person Early Voting in Chicago, Suburban Cook County Outpacing 2022 Early Vote Totals by More Than 30%
Chicago voting booths are pictured in a file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)
With Election Day just around the corner, in-person early voting in Chicago and suburban Cook County is outpacing the totals we saw at the same point during the last gubernatorial election in 2022.
In Chicago, 126,320 in-person early vote ballots were cast through Thursday, a 35% increase from the same time during the 2022 general election, according to data from the Chicago Board of Elections.
Additionally, 82,691 mail ballots have been returned as of Thursday evening, according to CBOE data. That’s compared to 89,905 mail ballots that were returned at the same point in time for the 2022 general election.
In suburban Cook County, more than 180,000 in-person early vote ballots were cast through Thursday, a more than 30% increase from the same time during the 2022 general election, according to a Cook County Clerk’s Office spokesperson. Also, 100,600 mail ballots were returned as of Friday morning.
In Chicago, early voting is available in all 50 wards, in addition to the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite (137 S. State St.) and Chicago Board of Elections Office (69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor). Chicago voters can vote at any early voting location, regardless of where they live in the city.
Early voting is available at 56 locations in suburban Cook County through Monday. Similarly, suburban voters can cast their ballots at any early voting location, regardless of where they live.
Drop boxes for mail ballots are available at all early voting locations in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see so many voters taking advantage of Early Voting, and we hope that momentum continues up to and including Election Day,” Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said in a statement earlier this week. Gordon is running unopposed in the election.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
On Election Day, Chicago voters can vote at their assigned precinct polling place, at any of the 50 ward voting sites or at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite. Suburban Cook County voters can vote in their home precinct on Election Day, or at one of six vote centers.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
