Final Day Of Early Voting

COOK COUNTY, IL — Monday is the last day of early voting before the consolidated municipal election in suburban Cook County. Voters this year have cast a record number of early votes for a consolidated municipal election—which still isn't much, according to Cook County Clerk David Orr.

“It’s not surprising to see a rise in Pre-Election Day voting,” Orr said. “Early Voting – in particular – allows voters to skip any Election Day lines and cast their ballot when and where it’s most convenient for them.”

In the first week of early voting turnout was up 37.7 percent compared with the first week of Early Voting in 2015, and up 36.6 percent over the first week in 2013. More than 42,050 early voters participated through early Friday afternoon. This surpassed the previous Consolidated Election record of 40,693 Early Voting ballots cast in 2013.

In addition to breaking the 2013 record, the April 4 election has already outperformed the 2011 and 2015 Early Voting total by 15,353 and 5,951 ballots, respectively. The clerk's office noted there was more contested races and a Special Election for the 2nd Congressional District in 2013.

All Early Voting sites also offer Grace Period registration and voting. The Grace Period allows Cook County residents to register and vote on the same day. Individuals looking to participate simply need two pieces of identification, one of which shows the voter’s current address. No photo ID is necessary to register, and no ID is needed to vote early.

The office of Cook County Clerk David Orr has provided an Early Voting Wait Time Viewer. It refreshes every 20 minutes and shows voters how long they may have to wait any one of the 52 early voting sites.

Voters in 32 precincts have had their polling places changed. Notice should have been provided in the mail via postcards notifying registered voters of the change, but just in case, the Cook County Clerk has also provided a list of all new polling places.

Suburban Cook County voters can find a map and list of the early voting locations as well as their operating hours.

The full list of candidates, referenda, and write-in candidates can be found under the 2017 Elections section of cookcountyclerk.com.

You also can use the Voter Information Tool to view a sample ballot, find your Election Day polling place and verify your voter registration before the April 4 Consolidated Election.

Orr also released the following video in the hopes of encouraging a turnout larger than 19 percent. Vote totals this year are on pace to overtake their 2015 highs.

» via Cook County Clerk

Top photo: Patch File