By Townhall Chicago News Staff
In-person early voting in Chicago surpassed 126,000 ballots through Thursday, a 35 percent increase over the same point during the 2022 general election, according to Chicago Board of Elections data, as voters stream to the polls ahead of Tuesday’s Nov. 3 election.
The surge extends to suburban Cook County, where more than 180,000 in-person early vote ballots were cast through Thursday, a more than 30 percent jump from the same point in the 2022 cycle, according to the Cook County Clerk’s Office.
“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.
Additionally, 82,691 mail ballots had been returned in Chicago as of Thursday evening, according to board data. That figure trails the 89,905 mail ballots returned at the same point in 2022. In suburban Cook County, 100,600 mail ballots had been returned as of Friday morning.
Early voting is available in all 50 Chicago wards, as well as at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite at 137 S. State St. and the board’s office at 69 W. Washington St. Chicago voters can cast ballots at any early voting location regardless of where they live in the city.
Suburban Cook County offers 56 early voting locations through Monday, and suburban voters can similarly vote at any location.
The election carries added significance for Chicago residents. It marks the first time voters will choose a fully elected, 21-member Board of Education, according to a Friday community letter from Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Macquline King.
Young voters have contributed to the early voting momentum. Busloads of high school students traveled to the Board of Elections Supersite this week to cast ballots. Mayor Brandon Johnson joined students from DRW College Prep on a bus ride to the polls as part of the Chicago Votes project, which promotes civic participation among young people.
“I’m not mayor of Chicago without young people actively engaged in the process,” Johnson said during the event, according to published reports.
The League of Women Voters Chicago said the higher early voting numbers are encouraging but cautioned against complacency.
“We’re really sort of seeing people energized again about what participation looks like, and it’s not just during election time,” League of Women Voters Chicago President Jane Ruby said, according to published reports. “It’s also in between. It’s really sort of holding your elected officials accountable.”
On Election Day, Chicago voters can cast ballots at their assigned precinct polling place, at any of the 50 ward voting sites, or at the Board of Elections Supersite. Suburban Cook County voters can vote at their home precinct or at one of six vote centers. Drop boxes for mail ballots are available at all early voting locations in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
Source: Chicago Board of Elections
