Starting Monday, early voting will expand throughout Chicago and the Cook County suburbs, giving voters a chance to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day next month.
The deadline to register to vote online is Sunday, but it won't be the last opportunity to register.
Illinois voter guide for the 2026 midterm election
Beginning Monday, early voting locations open in all of Chicago's 50 wards.
For suburban Cook County, Clerk Monica Gordon announced her office is expanding early voting from six to 56 locations effective Monday. Voters can also drop mail-in ballots at smart ballot drop boxes, which can be found at every voting location.
Cook County officials said they are doing everything they can to make sure the voting process is as easy as possible for the suburbs. In March, the county introduced its Election Lens analytics system in partnership with the election security and technology company KNOWiNK. The system helps monitor activity, identify potential issues, and respond quickly, Gordon said.
For the November election, the county is strengthening its Election Lens technology — expanding the ability to track mail-in ballots from when they are printed to when they are returned to the clerk's office, providing greater visibility for voter check-ins at KNOWiNK Poll Pads, and tracking and operating equipment deliveries to polling places around the Cook County suburbs, Gordon said.
Meanwhile, some early voters at the supersite on Adams and State Street on Sunday were casting their ballots, while others chose the mail-in option.
So far, the clerk's office has already received more than 216,000 requests for mail-in ballots.
Those voting in person say it's important—some even call it a tradition.
"It's our Sunday routine. We like go out, hang out and then we always try to vote early too," said Jason and Jackie Georgen.
Others say voting by mail is easier.
"it gives me the chance to go through the editorials, who's backing who, and what have you, in a relaxed format at home without anybody looking at me, so I think I'm a more informed voter by being able to do that," said Mike Marciniak.
So far, early voters said it's been a quick process and are urging others to come down and vote early too.
"You have to vote. It's the only way you can weigh in on the process of democracy," Marciniak said.
The Cook County Clerk's office is also teaming up with the Chicago Bears, with a designated mail ballot drop box and voter information services available at the Bears game at Soldier Field on Thursday.
Right now, registrations at vote.org are outpacing the 2022 midterm election cycle. Illinois voter registrations are surging, at more than four times the normal rate, ahead of the Sunday online deadline.
Voters can also register and vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
On Monday, early voting also expands for Lake, McHenry, DuPage, and Kane counties in Illinois.
