More than 280,000 Chicago voters have already cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday’s midterm election, as candidates across Illinois make their final appeals in races that will determine the state’s next U.S. senator, governor and the leadership of Chicago’s first fully elected school board.
According to figures reported Monday by CBS Chicago, nearly 180,000 residents had voted early in person as of Sunday evening, while more than 100,000 mail-in ballots had been returned. Together, those ballots represent just under 20% of Chicago’s registered voters, with another full day of early voting remaining before Election Day on November 3.
The numbers reflect a steady increase in early participation compared with the 2022 midterm election. Chicago election officials reported last week that early voting was running approximately 10% ahead of the same point four years ago. Suburban Cook County has also experienced increased participation, with County Clerk Monica Gordon reporting that early voting was on pace to exceed 2022 levels by approximately 30%.
The increased activity comes as voters prepare to make decisions in several consequential races, including an open U.S. Senate seat and a historic transition in the governance of Chicago Public Schools.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is competing against Republican Don Tracy and independent candidate Whitfield Harrington for the seat being vacated by longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. Durbin’s retirement will bring an end to three decades of service in the Senate, creating an opportunity for new representation in Washington.
Stratton, who became Illinois’ first Black lieutenant governor in 2019, has made economic opportunity, reproductive rights and access to health care central issues in her campaign. Tracy has emphasized economic concerns, public safety and a different approach to federal leadership.
Both major-party candidates are spending the final days of the campaign making appearances across Illinois, seeking support from voters who have not yet cast their ballots.
The governor’s race is also drawing attention as Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker seeks a third term against Republican Darren Bailey, whom he defeated in 2022. Pritzker is campaigning alongside his running mate, Christian Mitchell, while Bailey is making his final appeals to voters across the state.
The candidates have offered competing approaches to taxes, education, public safety and the cost of living, issues that continue to affect households throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Beyond the statewide contests, Chicago voters are participating in a historic election that will determine the city’s first fully elected Board of Education.
All 20 school board district seats are on the ballot, along with the newly elected position of school board president. Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson are competing for the presidency.
The election represents a major change in how Chicago Public Schools is governed. For decades, Chicago’s mayor appointed the school board, but voters will now have direct authority to select the officials responsible for overseeing the district’s policies, finances and leadership.
The transition comes as Chicago Public Schools continues to confront challenges involving its budget, academic performance, school facilities and the needs of students and families across the city.
Candidates have also turned to churches and neighborhood gatherings in the final days of campaigning. On Sunday, school board presidential candidates Biggs and Dominguez visited congregations on the South and West sides, while Pritzker made a campaign appearance at Apostolic Church of God on the South Side.
Over the weekend, Black elected officials and community leaders also organized voter outreach efforts, including a gathering at Stone Temple Baptist Church on Chicago’s West Side. The efforts are part of a broader push to encourage participation before polls close Tuesday evening.
Younger voters have also contributed to early voting activity. Last week, Chicago high school students traveled to early voting locations as part of organized civic engagement efforts, with some casting their first ballots.
The increased early turnout, however, does not necessarily mean overall participation will exceed previous elections. Some residents who would ordinarily vote on Election Day may simply be choosing to cast their ballots earlier.
Monday marks the final opportunity for Chicago residents to vote early before Election Day. The city’s downtown voting supersite at 137 S. State St. and the Chicago Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St. will remain open until 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, polling locations across Illinois will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Voters who are in line by closing time will still be permitted to cast their ballots.
Illinois also allows eligible residents to register and vote on Election Day at designated locations, provided they bring the required identification and proof of residency.
With more than a quarter-million Chicagoans already participating, the final hours of the campaign will determine how many additional voters turn out to shape the city’s schools, Illinois’ leadership and its representation in Washington.
