Oct. 7, 2010
Tuesday marks the official start of Early Voting for the Nov. 2, 2010 General Election.
"Suburban Cook County residents can cast a ballot at any of our 43 suburban Early Voting sites," Clerk David Orr said. "You don't need an excuse, but don't forget to bring your government-issued photo ID."
Early Voting begins in full on Tuesday, Oct. 12 and lasts through Thursday, Oct. 28. (Please note: Early Voting is available at only 10 sites on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 11.) Starting Oct. 12, all sites are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays. Ten locations will be open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please visit cookcountyclerk.com for a full list of Early Voting sites and hours of operation. A downloadable pdf map of Early Voting sites is also available. Chicago voters must vote at an Early Voting location in Chicago.
State law requires early voters to display valid identification to an election official before receiving a ballot to vote early. Valid forms of ID include: a current driver's license, state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph.
Illinois first adopted Early Voting for the 2006 primary election. A history of suburban Cook County Early Voting turnout is below:
March 2006 Primary: 15,609 of 345,970 ballots (4.49% of total turnout)
November 2006 General Election : 32,903 of 680,696 (4.85% of total turnout)
February 2008 Primary: 51,116 of 585,449 (8.73% of total turnout)
November 2008 General Election: 226,084 of 1,056,242 (21.4% of total turnout)
February 2010 Primary: 34,839 of 367,688 (9.7% of total turnout)
Voters in the general election will elect a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, comptroller, U.S. senator, representatives in Congress, state senators, and representatives in the General Assembly. Certain county offices -- including county board president and commissioners -- will also be elected. A complete candidate list, referenda questions and write-in candidates are available online.
If history is a guide, the majority of early voters will cast ballots in the final days of Early Voting. During the February primary election, nearly half of all suburban Cook County Early Voting ballots were cast in the last four days of the period. Early Voting totals -- total ballots cast and ballots cast by Early Voting location -- will be posted online.
The advent of no-excuse absentee voting may prompt some people to request a mail-in absentee ballot rather than visit an Early Voting site. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 28, the same day Early Voting ends.