Our Chicago: Early voting for the 2024 presidential election is expanding in Chicago and Lake County, Illinois

CHICAGO (WLS) – Election Day is just over two weeks away, but people here in the city and throughout the Chicago area are already voting.

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Early voting began in the city on October 3rd. More than 1,200 people voted in person that day. At that time, only two downtown locations were open.

On Monday, October 21, early voting will expand to all 50 counties in Chicago.

On the same day, it goes statewide in Lake County, Illinois.

“Many of our locations also have weekend hours to make it as convenient as possible for our constituents,” said Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega.

There are 18 locations available to every registered voter in Lake County.

“The first day we stood in a queue of more than 12 people for half the day. So we were very stable,” he said.

Chicago's voter turnout was also stable, according to Max Bever, public information director for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

“We’ve seen a lot more of our ballots come back via mail-in ballots. Since this weekend, over a quarter of a million ballots have been cast by mail,” Bever said.

Ballots can be dropped into secure drop boxes located at any early voting location in Chicago. Anyone who would like to vote in person will have the opportunity to do so starting Monday.

“This is a get-out-the-vote program across Chicago. No matter where you live in the city of Chicago, you can go to any of these sites to vote. “So if you live in the first district and want to vote in the 50th district, you can do that,” Bever said.

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He added that typically about 50% of people vote before Election Day, either in person or by absentee ballot.

Vega said his office has sent out over 75,000 absentee ballots. 30% have already been returned.

While the presidential election draws a lot of attention, there are other important votes in Chicago and Lake County.

“We have a very contentious district attorney race in Lake County that I think people will join in and that will also be a motivator for people to vote. We also have public policy issues. We have a big referendum in the Lake County Forest Preserve for bonds that are on the ballot this year.”

There's a new race in Chicago that's getting a lot of attention. Voters can elect members of the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education. Bever said voters should pay attention to this contest about halfway through the ballot.

More information about Lake County, Illinois:

Early Voting Site Finder: https://maps.lakecountyil.gov/EarlyVotingSites/

Voter Power for Registered Voters: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/351/Voter-Power-for-Registered-Voters

For more information Chicago:

Home | Chicago Board of Elections (chicagoelections.gov)