More than 135 sites in suburban Cook County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
For the first time, Illinois voters may vote early – before the March 21 primary election – without needing a reason or excuse to do so.
Registered voters in suburban Cook County can vote early from Feb. 27 to March 16.
“During this 18-day period, early voting will make it easier for voters with busy schedules to cast a ballot,” said Cook County Clerk David Orr, who helped draft the legislation to allow for early voting.
“Early voting has become very popular in more than 30 states,” Orr added. “Voters like the convenience. Extending Election Day gives them more of a chance to participate in the democratic process.”
Early voters must cast ballots in person at one of the designated early voting sites. By law, individuals who vote early must display a government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, state identification card, passport, etc.) before receiving a ballot.
In suburban Cook County, voters may cast early ballots at their local village or city hall (voters who live within the village/city boundaries) or township hall (voters who live in unincorporated areas).
In addition, any voter may vote early at one of the Cook County Clerk’s five suburban offices (located at suburban courthouses) on the weekends. The Clerk’s downtown Chicago office (69 W. Washington St.) will also conduct voting seven days a week during the early voting period. Weekend hours at those locations are 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Orr urged voters who intend to vote early in their local suburbs to call their village or city hall to learn if officials there are taking part in the early voting program. In some cases, residents will vote early at their local township office or neighboring village. Most township halls will conduct early voting only for individuals living in unincorporated areas within a township.
Unlike absentee voting, voters do not need to provide a reason or excuse to receive an early ballot. Absentee voting by mail still exists and requires voters to provide an acceptable reason under the law as to why they cannot make it to their polling place on Election Day.
Early voters will cast paper optical scan ballots, similar to standardized tests, at local village and township halls and on electronic touch-screen machines, which are similar to ATMs, at the Cook County Clerk’s office locations.
Early ballots are secured and will remain secret. Early ballots are not counted until after the polls close on Election Day, March 21.