Chicago & Cook County Early Voting Expands for Illinois Primary 2026

by Chief Editor

Early voting is expanding across Chicago and Cook County ahead of the Illinois Primary Election on March 17. The expansion began Monday and aims to provide greater access to the ballot box for voters.

Expanded Access

Locations in all 50 Chicago wards and 55 locations in suburban Cook County will now be open for early voting. In McHenry County, an additional 11 early voting sites are opening for the primary.

Did You Know? Early voting began about a month ago in Lake, Will, McHenry, Kane, Kendall and DuPage counties, though initially with limited locations.

The primary election features several competitive congressional races, including a U.S. Senate race to replace Senator Dick Durbin. Other races include contests for Illinois’ 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th Congressional Districts.

Voters who wish to register at their local polling place are reminded to bring two forms of identification. Election officials are as well encouraging voters who plan to vote by mail to submit their ballots at least one week before Election Day, due to new postmark rules.

Expert Insight: Expanding early voting access is a common strategy to increase voter turnout, particularly in elections with multiple high-profile races. Providing more options for voters to cast their ballots can aid mitigate potential challenges related to perform schedules, transportation, or other commitments.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Illinois Primary Election?

The Illinois Primary Election is on March 17.

What congressional districts have competitive races?

The 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Congressional Districts of Illinois have competitive races.

What do voters need to bring if registering at a polling place?

Voters must bring two forms of ID if registering at their local polling place.

As Illinois voters prepare to cast their ballots, what factors will most influence their decisions in these key congressional races?

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