By Danielle Osei
State Correspondent, WE NEWS
When and where early voting starts
Illinois voters who want to cast their ballots before the Nov. 3 general election have several options this fall. Statewide early voting will begin on Thursday, Sept. 24, with an initial slate of limited locations. Many counties plan to expand in‑person early voting later in the season.
In Chicago, the city’s initial downtown early-voting hubs open on Oct. 1. The two sites are:
- 137 S. State St. (the new downtown voting supersite)
- 69 W. Washington St., 6th floor
Beginning Oct. 19, early voting will be available at sites located in each of the city’s 50 wards. Any Chicago resident may use any early voting location in the city, regardless of their ward of residence. Officials say all sites are ADA‑compliant and accessible to voters with disabilities.
Suburban Cook County and other options
Suburban Cook County plans to start expanded in‑person early voting on Oct. 7. The county has designated several locations where voters can appear early, including:
- Bridgeview Courthouse, 10220 S. 76th Ave., Bridgeview
- Cook County Clerk’s Office, 69 W. Washington St., Chicago (Pedway level)
- Markham Courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Ave., Markham
- Maywood Courthouse (Whitcomb Building), 1311 Maybrook Square, Maywood
- Rolling Meadows Courthouse, Rolling Meadows
Election officials advise voters to check their county’s election office for a full list of locations, hours and any last‑minute adjustments to site availability.
Mail‑in ballots and deadlines
Voters who prefer to vote by mail can request a mail‑in ballot. The deadline to apply for a mail‑in ballot is Oct. 29. Completed ballots may be mailed to the Chicago Board of Elections at:
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Chicago Board of Elections | 69 W. Washington St., Ste. 600, Chicago, IL 60690-1122 |
Voters who apply for a mail‑in ballot can also return their completed ballot in person to the same Board of Elections office. Local election authorities emphasize that tracking delivery times and allowing sufficient mailing time are important to ensure ballots arrive before any applicable postmark or receipt deadlines.
Language access and disability accommodations
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners says ballots will be available in 12 languages at early voting locations and through other election services. Those languages include English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, Tagalog, Gujarati, Urdu, Arabic, Ukrainian and Russian. Officials also stress that all early voting sites will be accessible to people with disabilities.
Practical steps for voters
Voters who plan to participate early should consider these steps:
- Confirm the hours and address of the early voting site; some locations have limited schedules when early voting first begins.
- If requesting a mail‑in ballot, apply well before the Oct. 29 deadline and allow time for postal delivery.
- Bring valid identification as required by your county’s election authority.
- Use the state and local election websites to verify ballot content and polling locations: chicagoelections.gov for Chicago.
Local election officials continue to encourage voters to plan ahead, particularly if they rely on mail delivery or need accessible services. As early voting expands across counties through October, schedules and site lists may change, so checking official county or city election pages will provide the most up‑to‑date information.
For more details about where and how to vote early in Chicago, visit the Chicago Board of Elections website at chicagoelections.gov.
