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* Considering the horribly long lines during every election, the last-minute precinct voting changes, and all the other bungles; I swear, if Chicago and Cook County were in Georgia, people would most definitely say that stuff like this was specifically designed to depress Democratic turnout…
Early voting became the predominant method for suburban voters to cast ballots four years ago, beating vote by mail and Election Day voting options.
Nearly 38% of all votes cast in the 2020 presidential election in suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties were from early voters, according to data from county election officials. That was up from less than 31% for the 2016 presidential election.
And suburban election officials expect early voting to remain popular this year when it kicks off for most of the region Thursday.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers were just as big because people are creatures of habit,” said DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek. “If they voted early in 2016 and 2020, chances are they’re going to do the same this year.”
However, Cook County voters must wait until Oct. 9 to vote early.
Chicago doesn’t start early voting until October 3rd.
But this is all just accepted as the natural order of things.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 8:12 am
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Posting this in the “In Opposite Land” section may embarrass these officials. You’re right, probably not. You have to care to be embarrassed.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 8:27 am
When I took a year to teach in New Orleans at Xavier University of Louisiana, I was shocked that the “downtown” voters were unable to vote after standing in line all day, yet I was able to vote in 15 minutes in Kenner, LA. It sounds like political priorities trump constitutional priorities in Chicago too. Who would have guessed in a “blue” state. /s
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 8:29 am
Access to apply online for a mail-in ballot from the Cook County Clerk’s office has been screwed up for weeks. I think the system is finally up and consistently operating as of late last week. I hope but doubt other states are outperforming Cook County.
Comment by Barbie Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 8:33 am
Early voting in Vermilion County starts tomorrow.
Comment by Really? Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 9:10 am
When Illinois first passed the early voting law, the EV period was longer. We found (through a statistical study, imagine that) that the cost/benefit was totally out of whack, with substantial expense for the very few “early” early voters. Long lies at EV sites argues for more sites, not earlier commencement.
Comment by Mike K Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 9:14 am
Cook County and the City are not usually “the worst” run elections offices in the State in any given cycle. Typically some cataclysm occurs somewhere else to take the gold medal in the screw up olympics away from them. However, they do seem to place or show every cycle, so I think its fair to call them the most consistently bad elections offices.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 9:16 am
Printed my sample ballot - my county has lots of EV options - Expanded EV opens up Oct 21 - I’ll vote at a local location when they open - I’m usually one of the first in the door I’ve gotten to know the judges-all good people both D and R’s.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 9:41 am
Welcome to my “Shouting at clouds about obvious civic problems caucus” Mister Miller (banned exclamation point)
Comment by ChicagoBars Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:08 am
WHen I was in college I voted absentee. I can’t remember when I didin’t take advantage of voting early. Maybe the Jim Thompson days? Now, after I vote,I get the sticker and post how long it took from the moment I walked into the building to getting the sticker to remind people. I also shame people who say they are too busy. Now you can just vote by mail. Almost no excuse not too. I think the non-voters are just apathetic.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:13 am
No doubt, there’s a fair share of administrative incompetence on the part of the election authorities, particularly with some of the Election Day screw ups. But I don’t think anyone can argue it’s hard to vote in Chicago and suburban Cook. There are more than 100 early voting locations geographically dispersed throughout the county.
Comment by TNR Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:20 am
I’ve early voted at Maybrook Courthouse for the previous two elections, this year voting is open 10/9 to 10/11 and 10/14 to 10/18.
Comment by Liz Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:26 am
If we can manage 150 million credit card transactions per day totalling over $14 billion in daily money movement, why can’t we vote electronically?
Comment by Save Ferris Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:38 am
If I get my ballot in the mail but deposit it in the county dropbox — and I do — is that counted as vote by mail or early voting?
I’ll take my answer off the air.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 10:58 am
===But I don’t think anyone can argue it’s hard to vote in Chicago and suburban Cook===
Try early voting in Chicago tomorrow and then get back to me.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 11:39 am
Election month is long enough.
Comment by Trap Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 12:08 pm
I haven’t worked a precinct for five years, but when I did the EV did not increase turnout, as the same people came out to vote. Some just voted early. There was no surge in people voting who had not voted in the past.
Comment by Bud Grant Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 12:45 pm
@MJM I believe that it is VBM because you have returned your marked VBM ballot.
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 12:47 pm
Voting in Chicago is so unbelievably easy compared to how it was/is even in states like Michigan who are reasonably non-insane. I tell people from back home about how we can just walk into our Ward site and cast a ballot in 10-15 mins and they’re shocked.
Oct 3 to Nov 5 is not some small period of time.
I have a lot of complaints about this city and its governance but can’t say I relate to this one in the slightestl.
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 1:33 pm
Maybe the number of precincts and volume varies throughout the City and County, but other than in 2020 where I was trying to avoid the crowds, I’ve never voted early and have never experienced long waits at my West Cook spot on election days
Comment by Steve M Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 4:20 pm
My thought was that a lot of the early voters and vote by mail people are Republican. Democrats tend to vote early but closer to election day or in person on the day of. But I could be wrong.
Comment by Mike Gascoigne Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 4:34 pm
Just sayin’, might be a change worth making.
Comment by Voting for Republican Clerk Candidate Michelle Pennington Wednesday, Sep 25, 24 @ 7:21 pm