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* Have you voted yet? Early or mail? If not, what are your voting plans? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:47 am
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Will vote in person on election day. I live in a suburb that has turned blue in recent years, but still has pockets of GOP voters. I like to vote in person, wearing my blue tie.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:50 am
Already early voted in McLean County. Nice and easy to get in and out of a mostly empty mall.
Granted, annoyed to be in the GOP vote sink area of Bloomington-Normal where there are barely any competitive races rather then the parts with meaningfully competitive federal and state house races.
Comment by TJ Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:51 am
We try to vote early as a family and walk to the polling place together.
Comment by Loyal Virus Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:54 am
Vote in person, because that’s what you’re supposed to do.
Comment by lowdrag Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:55 am
I always have voted on Election Day and still plan too. I like going there it is just a tradition. And you never know what may happen or who may drop out before the old style Election Day
Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:56 am
Normally, I vote in person on Election Day, but this year I’ll be out of town. So I’ll fill out my mail-in ballot, but will likely take it to a drop-box (and hope we don’t have some idiot setting fire to it like they had in Oregon and Washington).
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:57 am
Early in person, I like the ritual of going in person to vote, and I like to take my kids with so they can see the importance of it as a responsibility for a citizen in a Democracy.
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:58 am
Voted via mail. So much easier than waiting in line. Oh and I have Election Day off to do whatever I want.
Comment by Glengarry Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:58 am
Technically, voted by mail but used a dropbox to drop it off instead of mailing it.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Early vote in person. Smooth process as always but a bit of a line (North Side, Chicago) which is always a nice problem to have.
Comment by Alton Sinkhole Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:06 pm
I plan to vote in person tomorrow. I prefer the security of depositing my own ballot, and it speeds up the tallying process.
I wish mail-in ballots could be fed into machines during early voting, just as they are at in-person sites. It would speed up the results and reduce stress for election workers. There seems to be some irrational fear that feeding them into the ballot box introduces the opportunity for fraud or access to results before polls close. Neither is true, and in fact having to guard mail-in ballots for a month could be a source of fraud rather than just having an election worker from each party work together to process them on a daily basis.
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:07 pm
Early-voted in person with a group of friends.
I always early vote since I work as an Election Day registrar.
Waited maybe ten minutes in line. The election judges were very efficient in getting people their ballots, so no one waited long.
Comment by Teacher Lady Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:08 pm
Voted by mail… it’s just too easy to pass up
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:11 pm
Early voted on Sunday in Sangamon County with entire family. Lots of people voting, mostly smooth but one of the machines was having trouble accepting ballots. One man got angry and ripped up ballot, whcih caused a stir as the clerks have to spoil.
Comment by Thinking Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:13 pm
On election day around 5pm. My local site covers multiple precincts. Always like to see which campaigns get volunteers outside of it.
Comment by ChicagoBars Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:13 pm
Voted early in person, bu5 just once so far.
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:14 pm
I like the ritual of voting in person, but I’ve become paranoid of something keeping me from the polls on Election Day, so I voted by mail.
Gave me a chance to have my preschool-age daughter help me hold the pen as we filled in the bubble for Kamala Harris.
Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:14 pm
I’ll be voting on election day. Living in a red state that has done its share of enacting voter suppression laws, I want the security of seeing my ballot in a box with others voting that day.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:17 pm
Will vote early in-person this week. Next week out of state spoiling grandkids …
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:21 pm
Vote in person because our polling place is literally across the street in a small rural village.
Comment by Cornerfield Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:24 pm
Actually I tried to vote by mail first. However, the completed ballot was lost after I returned it to the Post Office.
Every mail in ballot is tracked through the entire process. My ballot was determined to be lost because it never got back to the last tracking point after it was returned to the county.
After waiting for two weeks to see if the ballot could be located, I contacted the clerk’s office to find out what to do next. The person who handled these issues directed me to vote in person and talk to the election judges, which I did.
The election judges were very nice, and issued a replacement ballot. They told me if the first ballot is found by election day, it would be counted. If it did not turn up, they would process the provisional ballot. after that time, if a second ballot is later found, it would be destroyed.
The whole process (even with the oops) seemed well thought out. I think mail in ballots are our future.
Comment by Second Verse Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:24 pm
Early voted by mail but used the dropbox.
Comment by Edgewater Resident Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:26 pm
Work as an Election Judge, so it’s just easier to vote early and in person
Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:26 pm
voted early as you get older you never know when your name may be in the ob
Comment by lenoard Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:27 pm
I’ll vote in person on election day on my way to work. It’s a small town and it won’t be too busy at that early hour. Voting on election day just feels right to me. I’m glad there are options for people, though. I think that’s important.
Comment by Dog Lover Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:27 pm
=== Work as an Election Judge, so it’s just easier to vote early and in person ===
Thank you for your service, RNUG.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:29 pm
I’ll vote in person on election day. My precinct’s voting location is only a couple blocks from my house, so it’s actually easier for me to vote on election day.
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:29 pm
I voted early in person at the super site downtown. Great experience, all the judges were professional and nice.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:32 pm
Early in-person voter - I used to have to ask if there were judges from both parties on duty just to keep it honest, but now they wear bright Red or Blue Rep/Dem lanyards. I love the convenience and I sort of hope it keeps the postcards and door knockers away.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:35 pm
Mail in voting but through drop box to save postage. We’re polling place workers so it’s good to get it in early, and in case some act of nature or sudden family emergency happens, it’s already done.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:36 pm
I voted two weeks ago at the clerk’s site in Aurora. I just wanted to get it taken care of.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:37 pm
It is so easy to vote early in-person, when you want and on your own schedule. Also, if I die before Election Day, my vote counts
Comment by Inverted Pyramid Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:37 pm
I voted early at the courthouse as I will be an Election Judge on November 5. Thank you to the County Clerk and election authority staff everywhere for their service. You rock.
Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:37 pm
I usually only vote on election day, but I was running errands listening to Saturday morning flashback on XRT and figured since I’m around the corner, I might as well just go get it done.
Comment by Frida's Boss Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:39 pm
Voting in person on election day. It makes election day actually matter. Also, when else am I going to get a chance to get confused by the 6 polling places inside my local public school (that I have no reason to ever walk into as I do not have children in the school). (Talk about a way to save money by just operating it as a super site.)
Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:39 pm
Voted early in person as usual due to that polling place being in walking distance of my workplace and my EDay polling place being a many-mile drive away.
I have been nervous about mail-in voting due to USPS cutbacks and now am even more so with the crazies trying to attack mail-in dropboxes.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:41 pm
I will be voting early in person. I like the ritual of voting in person, and the certainty of seeing my ballot counted, but I don’t like stressing about making it to the polls on Election Day, or feeling rushed in the voting booth if the polling place is crowded.
Comment by charles in charge Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:42 pm
Early voted by mail but used the dropbox (my preferred method).
The receipt of my ballot was confirmed online the very next day.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:47 pm
Voted by mail–it’s so easy and great to be able to look up candidates in real time. And the system they use to certify receipt of the ballot is awesome.
Comment by Lakeview Looker Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:49 pm
We will vote early in person after Church this coming Sunday. My wife prefers to wait closer to election day to see what shoes may drop.
Comment by Proud Sucker Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:51 pm
Am I the only one baffled by the respondents to a CapFax poll who do not intend to vote?
Inexplicable and unthinkable, imho.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:52 pm
We like to take the kids with us to vote so they will understand the importance and the ease. Early voting makes this easier to time. And they get stickers.
Comment by NotSoCivlEngineer Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:52 pm
Have the day off anyway so I will make the 1/4 mile trek to the polling place and vote in-person on Election Day.
Comment by Irma Gerd Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:52 pm
Voted early in person. Have done so for years because it is just so easy. This year I was shocked to see so many people there.
Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:56 pm
Voted early, in person. I was already at the clerk’s office for other business so really couldn’t pass on the opportunity.
Comment by Blue to the Bone Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 12:56 pm
Voted early last night in person. It was the first day of early voting after normal business hours in Kankakee County so I got it over with. There was no line and but plenty of people coming and going. Now I can fully enjoy my day off of work next Tuesday and spend it worrying about what the results will be.
Comment by Aaron B Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:03 pm
Voted early person. Great idea
Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:04 pm
Will vote early in person this afternoon because I’ll be out of town on Election Day. At least at the national level, nothing will be resolved on 11/5, which is likely to be only a prelude to an unpredictable and troubled period for this republic. Rather than spend the day dwelling on that prospect, I’m joining several like-minded friends to head to NE Iowa or SE Wisconsin, my friends to wet their fishing lines and I to explore with my camera.
Comment by Flapdoodle Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:05 pm
===it’s so easy and great to be able to look up candidates in real time===
Agreed. I prefer voting by mail because I can Google the candidates I don’t know in the comfort of my own home.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:06 pm
Voted by mail at it is convenient. Checked online with the Board of Elections that ballot was received. All good.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:07 pm
I voted at the county clerk’s office yesterday. They said turnout has been pretty heavy, and there were several other people voting while I was there, I was surprised at how short the ballot was in my precinct. And all of the unopposed local races. And I thought about how it doesn’t even matter for whom I voted for president: Trump’s not going to carry Illinois, and Harris is going to win here because Illinois is a blue state. A good argument for direct popular vote for president rather than the electoral college.
Comment by effillus Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:10 pm
I will vote in person on e-day. I have the day off from work, and it’s a fun little outing. Plus, I want the sticker.
Comment by NewToSpringfield Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:12 pm
Voting in person today
Do not trust the Champaign County Clerk. He has managed to screw up 5 of the 6 elections he has overseen
Comment by champaign lite Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:12 pm
Serving as an election judge again so early voted.
Comment by Interested Bystander Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:13 pm
Election Day is my Super Bowl always take the kids and vote, this year my oldest gets to vote for her very first time. Then we spend election with a party, this year going to friends with kids.
Serious who are the five people that read capfax that wouldn’t be voting. lol
Comment by Route 50 Corridor Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:14 pm
Gotta finish up my judicial research then off to vote early on Halloween.
Comment by SmoDaddy Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:27 pm
Will vote early-in-person; first time in a few years.
Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:32 pm
I early voted in person. The early voting location is very close to my office, so I can be in and out in less than 10 minutes on a workday.
Comment by wildcat12 Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:32 pm
I voted early in Lyons. The mayor of Lyons is tight with the Democratic Committeeman and thought to be assuming that title one day so I was surprised to see the GOP signs outnumbering the Dem signs. Only one Harris/Walz sign. Weird?
Comment by Barbie Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:37 pm
=I always have voted on Election Day and still plan too. I like going there it is just a tradition. And you never know what may happen or who may drop out before the old style Election Day=.
Me too. I voted by mail in 2020 because one of the candidates was so completely against it, so I just had too.
I heard a story from a colleague about their voting experience that made me feel very confident in our election integrity. They went to vote in person, were told they could not because they had a mail in ballot. So they went home, and brought the ballot in and were allowed to vote in person after surrendering the mail in ballot.
Our system is very strong.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:41 pm
Voted early in person. Was the only person voting. It’s just too easy.
Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:47 pm
I vote early because I like to save campaigns some outreach money, plus you never know if you’re going to get sick or injured or whatever before Election Day. I prefer not to vote by mail because I still get a kick out of putting my ballot in the machine!
Comment by KBS Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 1:54 pm
I’ll be voting in person on election day. Traditional.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:00 pm
I went in to the County to pay my property taxes and voted afterwards
Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:03 pm
Election Day voting for me. There’s nothing like going down to the firehouse, with the smell of burnt coffee, and seeing all the same election judges (moms of people I went to school with, most of whom are now in their 70s). What can I say? I’m from Lake Wobegon.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:09 pm
I took my 19 year old daughter with me to vote on the second day of early voting.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:10 pm
I voted early in-person, because it is so easy and convenient here in downstate Illinois (I don’t know about the city or suburbs).
I also did so because I felt a need to get it done so I can put some of the stress aside.
Not ironically, my second Harris sign was stolen this morning, in very, very rural McDonough County. I live deep in the corn fields (literally miles off any decent road). And yet the knuckleheads found me anyway.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:28 pm
Voted early in Chicago at the library near my house. I was surprised- but happy - to see 10 people already in line. Seemed like a steady stream of folks coming into to vote while I was there.
Comment by Phil Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:36 pm
===Serious who are the five people that read capfax that wouldn’t be voting.===
Perhaps minors or non-citizens?
Comment by thechampaignlife Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 2:59 pm
==Perhaps minors or non-citizens?==
I sure hope saw. A lot of great philosophers have weighed in on this.
From Plato: One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors
From Bertolt Brecht: The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in the political events. He doesn’t know the cost of life, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, of the rent, of the shoes and of the medicine, all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies
To Mick Jagger and Keith Richards: Spare a thought for the stay-at-home voter
His empty eyes gaze at strange beauty shows
And a parade of the gray suited grafters
A choice of cancer or polio (”Salt of the Earth”)
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:04 pm
Voted by mail, dropped my ballot at the Sangamon Co. Courthouse drop box.
Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:08 pm
Will vote early in person with my wife and kids. Then sit back with a cocktail (or many more) on election night and pray.
Comment by Robert Montgomery Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:14 pm
Voted by mail weeks ago. I took my time and I didn’t have to bend over some rickety plastic table to try and read the names. I didn’t have people coughing or sighing for me to hurry up so they could vote and leave. I got an email confirmation when my ballot was received, and another that it was accepted. I don’t need to be in person on election day to know that my vote was counted. This whole notion that voting on election day is tradition or the way it’s supposed to be is very outdated. I think some of the people commenting don’t have to worry about missing work or don’t have to stand in line so it’s no big deal to them.
When I lived in Georgia in the 1990s I had to stand in line for almost 4 hours. I didn’t have a cell phone and couldn’t step out of line to go find a pay phone or I would have lost my place. I may have only voted for president and 1-2 other candidates because I needed to get the heck out of there. And when I got back to work my boss was livid that I was gone for so long. I probably should have waited until I got off work, but I was worried I wouldn’t make it in time because of my commute. It was a nightmare, and I couldn’t believe how much of an ordeal it was to vote. I think that is why turnout is so low in some state or in larger cities prior to early voting or vote by mail.
Comment by Baloneymous Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:22 pm
Voted by mail a couple weeks ago, sent my ballot in by USPS, and got confirmation Chicago board of elections got the ballot with their online tracker.
Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:23 pm
I always vote on Election Day. I enjoy going to my precinct, chat with the judges and get a feel for how strong (or poor) local turnout is.
Comment by jackmac Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:25 pm
Early voted at City Hall where I live. No line, done in 2 minutes.
Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:26 pm
I will early vote in person later this week. I’ve done all (mail-in for my first vote in the 80s, in person on election day or early in-person voting other times) and don’t have a particular preference philsophically. I try to vote early to make sure something doesn’t come up on election day to prevent me from voting.
This year I was researching judge retention and Chicago School Board (I’m on the NW Side of Chicago). Now that I’ve got my decisions made, I want to lock it in.
Comment by Leslie K Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:37 pm
Mrs. H & I decided to vote early in person because of tentative plans to be out of town. … and in person for maximum assurance of a smooth process/accurate count.
Comment by Hieronymus Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:45 pm
I voted early in person last week I have done this the last three elections. It’s easy and I was in and out pretty quickly
Comment by iroquoiscountydem Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 3:56 pm
Spending my final day at home being COVID-quarantined. Going to vote on Thursday, so I can golf Election Day.
It appears that 3/4 of respondents will have voted before Election Day.
Comment by Bogey Golfer Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 4:13 pm
Early voted late last week- the line was quick- but there was a line in the mid afternoon.
Like MisterJayem, I am entirely fascinated that there are 12 readers of this blog, who took the time to answer the QOTD- in order to proclaim that they were not voting.
Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 4:27 pm
By mail, my lady and I, even though she is an election judge. You never know what election day might bring. Also, you can study the ballot, and in primaries not have to deal with jerks that sneer and worse at your ballot choice.
Comment by Stix Hix Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 5:01 pm
Voting early in person. Voting early because I’m election judging on Election Day. Voting in person because I enjoy it, with the bonus of a satellite early-voting polling place having opened within a few blocks of my home.
Comment by yinn Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 5:05 pm
Voted early in person at our township office. There has been a 30-60 min wait every day since early voting opened. Today I had to wait about 40 min. Well worth it to avoid election day and whoever may be hanging out “observing”.
Comment by stateandlake Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 5:09 pm
In person on election day. Just have always liked it that way.
Comment by Maywood Johnny Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 5:13 pm
= it’s so easy and great to be able to look up candidates in real time =
= I prefer voting by mail because I can Google the candidates I don’t know in the comfort of my own home. =
See, I don’t understand this. Surely one can find out about the candidates in the comfort of one’s home, take some notes, and then go vote in person.
I’ve been known to do that. I’ve been doing that in the judicial races particularly for years.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 7:35 pm
= Mail in voting but through drop box to save postage. =
No postage necessary, at least in Chicago. Unless you’re trying to save the city a few cents.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 7:37 pm
Voted early a couple times, but mailers and TV ads kept coming. I thought early voting would protect me from that, or maybe that was just what I hoped would happen.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 7:51 pm
=== A lot of great philosophers have weighed in on this.===
You’re forgetting Carlin’s take on the matter.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 9:07 pm
===See, I don’t understand this===
Same reason I use Instacart.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Oct 29, 24 @ 11:12 pm
I always vote early given the opportunity. Whether that is in person or by mail varies randomly. I intend to vote later today in person.
Comment by Odysseus Wednesday, Oct 30, 24 @ 4:23 am
I early voted last week while I was working as an election judge at the county’s early voting site in Eastland Mall. I will be working Election Day at a site that does not include my precinct. The Eastland Mall site saw a steady stream of voters the days I worked. The old MC Sports store was used by both the Bloomington Election Commission and the McLean County Clerk office which oversees the elections for Normal and the rest of the county.
Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Oct 30, 24 @ 6:16 am
Voted early in person on Sunday at my ward’s early voting site. Went about 2 p.m. and the worker said this is the first line we have had; you could go right in earlier. Waited probably 15 minutes to vote. Very easy. Lots of people dropping off mail-in vote in the drop box while we were waiting.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Wednesday, Oct 30, 24 @ 8:30 am