Early voting begins Monday at 50 Chicago ward locations
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Early voters in Chicago no longer have to go downtown to cast their ballots in the November general election.
While the Chicago Board of Elections office and supersite have been open for a couple of weeks, starting Monday all 50 ward sites will be open for early voting.
Early voting sites in the wards will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day on Nov. 8. Check the Board of Elections website for locations.
Meantime, the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite at 191 N. Clark S.t and the Chicago Board of Elections office on the 6th floor at 69 W. Washington St. will be open or early voting from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 30. From Oct. 31 through November 7, those sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. On Election Day, Nov. 8, the supersite at 191 N. Clark St. will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The location at 69 W. Washington St. won't be open for voting on Election Day.
Voters can cast their ballot at any early voting location, even one not in their home ward.
"The November 8th general election is only two weeks away; two weeks. So we're urging Chicago voters to vote early, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with getting your civic duty out of the way," said Chicago Board of Election Commissioners chair Marisel Hernandez.
Hernandez said more than 5,000 Chicago voters already have cast ballots early, and more than 190,000 voters have submitted applications to vote by mail.
If you still need to register to vote, you can do that in person at any early voting location at the same time you vote.
If you plan to wait until Election Day to cast your ballot, make sure to check with the city or Cook County to find out where your polling place will be. Many polling places have changed this year, due to the once-per-decade redistricting process that follows the decennial U.S. Census. Nearly half of Chicago voters might have a new polling place this Election Day.
Turnout is a big concern heading into this election, and the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners is hoping to target younger voters, ages 18 to 21, in a campaign to get them to the polls.
"The races for this election are so interesting, and there's a lot at stake for every voter. So I think that will motivate a larger turnout, and I'm hoping that people will come out to vote, realizing that they're the ones that make a difference here," Hernandez said.
Early voting for suburban Cook County also gets underway Monday at various municipal buildings, libraries and community centers in several suburbs.