Early Voting Opens In Cook County Suburbs

SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL — If you're going to be out of town or can't handle the pressure of voting on election day — April 2 — early voting is now in effect at 52 sites throughout suburban Cook County and downtown Chicago. Voters in 115 municipalities and 172 school districts will take part in the April 2 Consolidated Election.

There are 2,037 candidates countywide who are running for office in the consolidated election, for offices that include mayor, village clerk, alderman and village trustee, township trustee, school board member, park and library district board member.

Voters will also face ballot questions that include term limits on local offices, airport runway expansion, bond issues and many more.

You can still register to vote in the consolidated election if you missed the registration deadline. Grace period registration and early voting extends the registration period by allowing voters to register and vote until the Monday before the election — in this case, April 1.

During the grace period, voters must register and vote in person at one of the designated grace period locations. Individuals wishing to vote during the grace period must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address. Grace period registrants must immediately cast their ballot after registering to vote.

Voters may also find their registration information as well as a sample ballot for the upcoming Consolidated Election on the county clerk’s website.

Any registered voter can also request a mail ballot via the clerk’s website, until March 28. Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, April 2.

Local early voting locations will open throughout the Cook County suburbs from March 18 to April 1. Voters do not need to give an excuse why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day.

All suburban early voting locations will be open during the following times:

• March 18 to March 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• March 23 and March 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• March 24 and March 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• March 25 to March 29, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• April 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where to vote early in Patch towns:

Alsip Village Hall
4500 W. 123rd St., Alsip

Andrew Biela Senior Citizens Center
4545 Midlothian Turnpike, Crestwood

Oak Forest City Hall
15440 S. Central Ave., Oak Forest

Oak Lawn Village Hall
9446 S. Raymond Ave., Oak Lawn

Orland Township Hall
14807 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park

Palos Heights Recreation Center - NEW
6601 W. 127th St., Palos Heights

Tinley Park Village Hall
16250 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park

For a complete list of early voting locations, visit the Cook County Clerk website.