Which locations are open? – NBCChicago

Early voting for the 2024 general election begins this week in some suburban Cook County locations, the Cook County Clerk's Office said, with “limited” early voting sites set to open Wednesday.

According to the clerk, polling places will also debut a new technology tool that will allow voters to update their ballot signature in real time. The clerk's office is expected to hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to reveal more information.

Starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 9, early voting will be available at all five Cook County Circuit Courthouse locations as well as the Clerk of Court's Office at 69 West Washington Street.

Additional locations will open October 21st and can be found on the clerk's website.

Early voting opened in Chicago on October 3rd. Nearly all other Chicago-area counties opened early voting in late September.

VOTER GUIDE: Your guide to voting in the 2024 Illinois general election

According to projections released by CBOE, nearly 50,000 voters have registered since June, with the largest increases among 18- to 35-year-olds.

Board officials expect 20% to 30% of voters will cast early ballots in the election, reflecting trends that have emerged over the past two election cycles.

With a presidential election coming up, city officials expect higher voter turnout, with 73.3% of voters casting a ballot in the 2020 election.

Here's what you should know as you prepare to vote:

How to register to vote in Illinois

There are several ways for voters to register in Illinois, starting with automatic voter registration available at Department of State locations and other public facilities in the state.

Voters can also register to vote by mail by printing a form and returning it to their local county clerk's office, or they can deliver the form in person to those offices.

You can find the form here. The deadline for this type of voter registration is 28 days before the election, which will take place on October 8, 2024.

Voters can register online via the State Board of Elections websitewith a deadline of October 20th for this type of registration.

Finally, during a grace period leading up to and including Election Day, voters may register by going to their local county clerk's office or at designated polling locations and providing proper identification. Voters who register this way must submit their ballots the same day they register.

How to vote in Illinois

Of course, voters in Illinois can vote in the general election on November 5, but there are several other ways to cast their ballot in the state.

The first option available to voters is early voting. Most counties allow early voting at local county clerks' offices, with additional locations open throughout the election cycle.

Voters can also cast their vote by mail. You can find applications for this here on the State Board of Elections website and must be returned no later than five days before the election.

Illinois residents who will not be in the country on Election Day also have the option to vote abroad and in the military. A complete manual is available on the Board of Elections website.

A complete overview of voting options can be found here.

How to vote by mail in Illinois

Illinois residents interested in voting by mail may do so as long as they are registered to vote under state law.

The deadline for requesting a mail-in ballot is five days before the election or October 31, 2024. These ballots must then be postmarked no later than Election Day, November 5, or placed in a designated mailbox by the end of Election Day Election day.

Voters can still choose to vote in person. The relevant steps are described on the election committee’s website.

Detailed information about registering for postal voting and much more Information about the guidelines established by state law can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

Who's on the ballot in Illinois?

The presidential election will be at the top of the list, but voters across the state will also elect their state representatives and, in some cases, their senators, and voters in Chicago will even elect a school board for the first time.

Illinois is moving away from the U.S. Senate vote by one election cycle, with Sens. Dick Durbin up for re-election in 2026 and Tammy Duckworth in 2028.

However, it will be up to state voters to vote for president, with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. all on the ballot for that office.

In addition to the presidential race, all 17 Illinois seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as all of the state's House of Representatives seats and one-third of the state's Senate seats, will be up for election.

In addition, there will be three advisory questions on the ballot paper at the statewide level as well as referendums in numerous municipalities and districts.

Finally, there will be a limited number of municipal and county races in the 2024 general election.

Voters can search for candidates for various offices on the State Board of Elections website.