Chicago's early and mail-in voting for the primary elections has surpassed previous midterm records, with nearly 200,000 ballots cast as of Monday night. Voters braved unseasonably cold weather to participate in what officials described as an encouraging turnout.
Key Takeaways
Chicago's early and mail-in voting for the primary elections has surpassed previous midterm records, with nearly 200,000 ballots cast as of Monday night. Voters faced cold weather but turned out in record numbers, driven by competitive races and high spending. The U.S. Senate race features three top Democratic contenders and six Republicans vying for open seats.
According to data from the Chicago Board of Elections and Cook County Clerk's Office, early voting numbers have exceeded those from previous midterm primaries. As of noon on Monday, 82,442 early vote ballots were cast in Chicago, with an additional 78,402 vote-by-mail ballots received. In suburban Cook County, over 108,000 in-person early voting ballots and nearly 59,000 mail-in ballots were cast.
The high turnout comes amid competitive races for several open seats. The U.S. Senate race features three top Democratic contenders—U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton—and six Republicans vying to replace longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. Additionally, voters in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District will choose a replacement for retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
Chicago Board of Elections Chairwoman Marisel Hernandez noted that around 400 police officers were on standby to ensure a smooth and safe Election Day. The Illinois attorney general’s office also deployed monitors to protect voters' rights and address any election-related concerns. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., with those in line at closing time allowed to cast their votes.
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