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Your early voting reports

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* What have you seen or experienced at early voting sites so far this year and particularly over this past weekend? Let us know where you are. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 9:20 am

Comments

  1. Late last week voted at my local township office in northern Lake County. Had about a 40 minute wait to get in and vote. It has been that way every day since early voting started. I have never waited more than a couple of minutes to early vote in the past, even in 2020.

    Comment by stateandlake Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 9:25 am

  2. I went to vote on the U of I campus last Wednesday around 4:30pm and the line was nearly the length of the building. I then swung by the Champaign Public Library instead. That line was much shorter, but still longer than I wanted to wait. So, I hit up the site at Parkland College the following morning just as they opened and got in and out in minutes. The first two attempts felt like an election day back before early voting existed. It is great to see such a sustained turnout.

    Comment by thechampaignlife Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 9:28 am

  3. My wife and I went to early vote last weekend in Uptown and there was about a one hour wait. We decided to come back Monday afternoon, when we usually walk right in and out, and we still waited one hour and there was an hour-long line behind us. I’ve never seen such high turnout.

    Comment by Terry Salad Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 9:48 am

  4. My husband and I went to vote last Tuesday afternoon at the Lincoln Park Library. I put my mail-in ballot in the dropbox and was done in about one minute, whereas he voted in-person and was in line for about an hour……while I waited…..and waited….and waited.
    I just don’t get it. Why do so many people want to unneessarily wait in line?

    Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 9:49 am

  5. Saw a 50ish man wearing a camouflage hat waiting in line to vote. He was holding a large sheet of aluminum foil in his hand. He was warning everyone that he had seen on line that the democrats was using satellites in space to switch Trump votes to Harris and that the only way to stop it was to put tin foil on top of the machine while voting.

    Comment by Frumpy White Guy Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:02 am

  6. Last week Jackson County had some ballots that had only one side of the ballot printed. The first person who noticed had the side with federal candidates. His wife, who voted right behind him had only the side with state candidates. When it was brought to the election judges attention he went to the stack of unissued ballots and he pulled out several in the stack. No idea how many people voted prior who didn’t realize the anomaly.

    Comment by Southern Belle Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:04 am

  7. North side of the city. Reports from friends who voted early that they waited anywhere from a half hour to two hours over the weekend. That’s why I’ll vote tomorrow - no line.

    Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:08 am

  8. I stood in a line to vote at Welles Park with Rod Blagojevich for 90 minutes. After he voted, he was glad handing and introducing himself to people still waiting in line, “Hi, I’m Rod. Nice to meet you.”

    Comment by Bob Cobb Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:17 am

  9. Quick and easy a few weeks ago at the Sangamon County building. It was a Saturday morning and there were lots of people but they moved every along quickly.

    Comment by FIREDup! Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:17 am

  10. Sheba and I voted early a couple of weeks ago. Had a hard time getting into the polling station due to ADA problems and Sheba’s wheelchair. Once we were in the polling station, things went smoothly and quick. County sheriff had a metal detector and wands.

    Comment by Huh? Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:19 am

  11. It seems like Republican elected officials have offered fewer early voting sites and early voting opportunities in counties that have significant Republican majorities. If this is really the case it is a pretty silly self own.

    Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:20 am

  12. I voted last week, and the line was very long. I was happy to see it. People are voting.

    Comment by I voted too Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:21 am

  13. As of the end of the day Friday McLean county was about 1800 EV and returned VBM ballots than we had in 2020. WE are on a path to pass the 44,000 we had in 2020. Almost 3600 in 10 days at the universal polling place at Bone Student Center.

    Comment by Neef Jr. Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:33 am

  14. I voted yesterday at the Merlo CPL branch in the 44th ward. I waited in line for about 5 hours, along with several hundred others. I will definitely be using the super site or a drop off ballot next time. I think the line was caused by a combination of 1) many voters registering or changing their address 2) only 7 voting booths and 3) the number of judicial retention questions. Anecdotally, I talked to a few people in line who were using comprehensive voting guides for all 76(!) retentions.

    Comment by I-55 Fanatic Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:35 am

  15. Thanks to the elected school board race, there were an unprecedented number of poll workers handing out palm cards at early voting sites in the city — so many I felt sorry for the voters. They had to run a gauntlet to get to the voting machines.

    Comment by Simon Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:35 am

  16. I was walking to my softball game on Halloween and passed by an early voting site library around 5:45pm. The line was pouring outside and down Division Street. It seemed like there was some enthusiasm even if just for early voting.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:36 am

  17. I get a vote by mail ballot, but then I like to drop it off at one of the drop boxes at the early voting sites. Easiest, fastest way to vote.
    It did not seem there were long lines, though.

    This is from the north shore suburbs.

    Comment by Banish Misfortune Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:42 am

  18. I voted the first day we could. I have driven two elderly neighbors to the courthouse with the most recent being this weekend. In all three cases, I’m happy to report Sangamon County workers are doing a great job(bp)

    Comment by Lurker Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:46 am

  19. I went first day in north side Chicago and had a bit of a wait. Maybe 20-30 mins start to finish?

    Have a couple friends and family voting this weekend and they had to wait HOURS at the EV locations. Good problem to have, I guess, but glad I got it out of the way.

    Comment by Alton Sinkhole Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:53 am

  20. Already early voted - took 5 minutes at a local library. FYI Dupage SA has posted this helpful info:

    Polls will be open Tuesday, November 5, from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Anyone who has questions or is concerned about activities at any DuPage County polling place can contact either the DuPage County Clerk at (630) 407-5600 or the State’s Attorney’s Office’s Election Hotline at (630) 407-8118.

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:55 am

  21. Bit over a month ago at the Sangamon County Courthouse all the booths were occupied. Had just a few minutes wait. Seemed to be steady. Expecting Election Day itself will be a bit lighter than normal since a lot of people I know voted early in person or by mail.

    Comment by RNUG Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:16 am

  22. First time voting in Illinois. I voted Friday around 5pm at the Sangamon County Courthouse building. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly (took me less than 10 minutes from arrival to departure) and the poll workers did a great job of moving everyone through.

    Comment by Wisco Expat Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:21 am

  23. Same experience as RNUG, but two weeks ago. A great, all hands on deck operation is going on there.

    Heads up to anyone voting by mail in Sangamon County: The stretch of Monroe St. between 8th and 9th streets was closed last week for construction. If you are planning to return your ballot at the Courthouse drop box, approach from 9th Street.

    Comment by Dirty Red Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:37 am

  24. Long lines at all our early voting places. The weather has been generally kind to us.

    Comment by walker Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:40 am

  25. 3-hour wait at Chicago’s 26th ward voting site on Saturday.

    Comment by twowaystreet Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:41 am

  26. Early voted few weeks ago at the Broadway Armory, Chicago, late afternoon no wait. Out running errands both days this weekend and line was pretty much out door, and the was more or less supported by FB posts of people waiting.
    Chicago Boards of Elections appears to be attempting to force everyone to vote by mail :( .

    Comment by Annon3 Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:52 am

  27. I and Mrs Bhartbanjo voted on the first day we could, at the Sangamon County building. Easy, fast, and we got nifty stickers which I added to my banjo case.

    Comment by bhartbanjo Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 11:55 am

  28. Was a little stunned and bewildered at the turnout this weekend. Took someone to vote and assumed the turnout would be like it was at the beginning of early voting. We went to one polling place and were told the wait was three hours. Went to the second place and waited around an hour. Is something happening? It should be, the country is literally on the line.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 12:36 pm

  29. Voted the first week at the early voting center in Woodstock. There was one person in front of me but it seemed like a constant flow.

    Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 12:41 pm

  30. Voted at my City Hall in South Central Forgottonia.
    Zero line,done in less than 5 minutes.

    Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:05 pm

  31. I early-voted last Thursday mid-afternoon at a satellite polling place. Voter traffic was steady although there was no line. This satellite usually has two judges assigned to it, but there were three this time, plus a staff person from the county’s elections office present also.

    After placing my ballot successfully in the box, a judge directed where they wanted me to return secrecy sleeve and pen. Then I located the “I Early Voted” stickers. When I picked one up, the judge said, “Take that home and show your Mom” and punched me (lightly) on the arm just above the elbow.

    Comment by yinn Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:19 pm

  32. Lines at Chicago Board of Elections super site midday Saturday were 45-75 minutes long. The actual office voting site at 69 W Washington was only 15-20 minutes midday Saturday (figured it would be worse with people with registration problems going there).

    The 43rd and 44th Ward early voting sites were slammed all weekend when I passed them.

    Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:22 pm

  33. Huge line in Lake County - I was just driving through the location (school) to check the line out but there wasn’t a parking space to be had either in the lot or the streets for two blocks away.

    Comment by lake county democrat Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:46 pm

  34. I voted a week ago Sunday late afternoon at Parkland College. In and out in five minutes. Three others there at the time.

    Comment by Radio Frequency Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:52 pm

  35. Voted Friday morning at about 10:00 in Sangamon County. They were busy, but things moved quickly. It took about 10 minutes from the time I entered the County Building until I walked out. A very efficient process.

    Comment by Facts Matter Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 1:55 pm

  36. Suburban cook Saturday. Sign said 75 minute wait from the end of the line - which stayed that long for the 100 minutes I was there.

    Comment by Phineas Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:01 pm

  37. Drop box, weeks ago, because we’re poll workers tomorrow. Wife’s been adjusting her sleep schedules because we need to be up at four in the morning to get fed and dressed and get to the site to set up. Then we’re probably going to take a nap when we’re released and get home then we’ll be up all night watching results…

    Comment by Give Us Barabbas Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:31 pm

  38. Things that never happened for $100.

    - Frumpy White Guy - Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 10:02 am:

    Saw a 50ish man wearing a camouflage hat waiting in line to vote. He was holding a large sheet of aluminum foil in his hand. He was warning everyone that he had seen on line that the democrats was using satellites in space to switch Trump votes to Harris and that the only way to stop it was to put tin foil on top of the machine while voting.

    Comment by phocion Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:46 pm

  39. I will also be a poll worker tomorrow, so I returned my ballot in the mail a month ago. With all these stories of long lines, Vote-by-Mail is the way to go.

    Comment by Nathan H Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 2:50 pm

  40. Voted at the Kane County Clerk’s Annex at 11:30am yesterday. 1 hour and 25 minutes. New machines, seem to be working great. This is the first time we have had in-hand paper to place in the tabulator. The last twenty years were the machines that had the rolling thermal print paper beside the screen.

    Comment by Proud Sucker Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:09 pm

  41. Voted early in-person in Calumet Park (60827) at Cal Park Township building. No line, in and out in a few minutes. Entirely uneventful.

    Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Nov 4, 24 @ 3:37 pm

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