DOWNTOWN — Chicago officials are asking residents to make a plan for voting in the upcoming presidential election — including voting early, if possible.
Thursday marks the first day of in-person early voting in Chicago, with the Loop Super Site, 191 N. Clark St., opening at 8:30 a.m.
Early voting in the city’s 50 wards starts Oct. 14.
In an effort to ensure safe social distancing and avoid overcrowding on Election Day, Nov. 3, officials are asking residents to make all possible efforts to vote early — whether in person or by mail.
“This is an historic election for many reasons,” said Marisel Hernandez, chairwoman of the Chicago Board of Elections. “The pandemic has added another layer of complication to the process.”
Chicago residents can use the Loop Super Site to vote, register to vote or to turn in mail-in ballots, city officials said. Once early voting sites in the wards open, registered voters in Chicago can visit any site to cast a ballot.
Secure ballot drop boxes will be available at all early voting sites.
Officials began sending out vote-by-mail ballots Sept. 24. Those ballots can be returned via the Post Office up until Election Day.
But to ensure they are received and tallied as quickly as possible, Hernandez said if voters still have their mail-in ballots by the third week of October, they are encouraged to drop them off at an early voting site instead of mailing them.
More than 440,000 vote-by-mail applications were received this year, according to the Board of Elections.
Early voting sites will have some changes this election season.
Six feet of distance will be maintained in lines and between voting booths. The Loop Super Site has about half as many voting booths as usual for a presidential election.
Plexiglass will be erected near poll worker stations and masks will be available for voters at each early voting site, Hernandez said.
Between historic interest in this year’s presidential election and social distancing guidelines, voters are encouraged to plan ahead on how they will vote and who they will vote for.
“Given the turnout expected, we want you to be prepared,” Hernandez said. “Please vote early if you can.”
RELATED: Here’s Where You Can Vote Early And Safely Drop Off Vote-By-Mail Ballots In Chicago (MAP)
Here’s everything you need to know about early voting in Chicago:
When Early Voting Sites Open
The Loop Super Site opens Oct. 1. Any Chicago resident can go there to vote early, drop off a vote-by-mail ballot or register to vote.
Starting Oct. 14, all the other early voting sites — one per ward — will open. Not sure which ward you live in? Look it up with your address here.
Hours
(For all voting sites)
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Election Day, Nov. 3: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.
Locations
As long as you are registered to vote in Chicago, you can use any polling place to cast your ballot during early voting.
- Loop Super Site at Clark & Lake, 191 N. Clark St.
- Ward 1: Goldblatts Building, 1615 W. Chicago Ave.
- Ward 2: Ogden Elementary School, 24 W. Walton St.
- Ward 3: Beethoven Elementary School, 25 W. 47th St.
- Ward 4: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove
- Ward 5: Ray Elementary School, 5631 S. Kimbark Ave.
- Ward 6 – Deneen Elementary School, 7257 S. State St.
- Ward 7: Burnham Elementary School, 9928 S. Crandon Ave.
- Ward 8: Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.
- Ward 9: Curtis Elementary School, 32 E. 115th St.
- Ward 10: Sadlowski Elementary School, 3930 E. 105th St.
- Ward 11: Sheridan Elementary School, 533 W. 27th St.
- Ward 12: Kelly High School, 4136 S. California Ave.
- Ward 13: West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St.
- Ward 14: Edwards Elementary School, 4815 S. Karlov Ave.
- Ward 15: Carson Elementary School, 5516 S. Maplewood Ave.
- Ward 16: Lindblom Park, 6054 S. Damen Ave.
- Ward 17: Southside High School, 7342 S. Hoyne Ave.
- Ward 18: Carroll Elementary School, 2929 W. 83rd St.
- Ward 19 – Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St.
- Ward 20 – Fiske Elementary School, 6020 S. Langley Ave.
- Ward 21: Turner-Drew Language Acad., 9300 S. Princeton Ave.
- Ward 22: Ortiz De Dominguez Elementary School, 3000 S. Lawndale Ave.
- Ward 23 – Dore Elementary School, 7134 W 65th St.
- Ward 24: Herzl Elementary School, 3711 W. Douglas Blvd.
- Ward 25: Jungman Elementary School, 1746 S. Miller St.
- Ward 26: Casals Elementary School 3501, W. Potomac Ave.
- Ward 27: Suder Elementary School, 2022 W. Washington Blvd
- Ward 28: Westside Learning Center, 4624 W. Madison St.
- Ward 29: Burbank Elementary School, 2035 N. Mobile Ave.
- Ward 30: Lorca Elementary School, 3231 N. Springfield Ave.
- Ward 31: Falconer Elementary School, 3020 N. Lamon Ave.
- Ward 32: Pulaski Elementary School, 2230 W. McLean Ave.
- Ward 33: Bateman Elementary School, 4220 N. Richmond St.
- Ward 34: Dunne Elementary School, 10845 S. Union Ave.
- Ward 35: NEIU El Centro, 3390 N. Avondale Ave.
- Ward 36: Hanson Park Elementary School, 5411 W. Fullerton Ave.
- Ward 37: McNair Elementary School, 4820 W. Walton St.
- Ward 38: Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
- Ward 39: Sauganash Elementary School, 6040 N. Kilpatrick Ave.
- Ward 40: Mather High School, 5835 N. Lincoln Ave.
- Ward 41: Oriole Park Elementary School, 5424 N. Oketo Ave.
- Ward 42: Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
- Ward 43: Lincoln Park High School, 2001 N. Orchard St.
- Ward 44: Inter American Elementary School, 851 W. Waveland Ave.
- Ward 45: Hitch Elementary School, 5625 N. McVicker Ave.
- Ward 46: Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
- Ward 47: Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
- Ward 48: Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway
- Ward 49: New Field Elementary School, 1707 W. Morse Ave.
- Ward 50: Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.
Related:
Voting By Mail In Chicago: Here’s Everything You Need To Know
Chicago Needs Election Judges For November. Here’s How You Can Help (And Earn $230 Or More)
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