Wait times reach three hours at Chicago early voting sites
Voters in Cook County faced long lines on Monday, but poll workers expect similar crowds again on Election Day.
By Andrew Hayes ·
Voters at Truman College in Chicago were told to expect waits of up to three hours on Monday as they cast ballots in the midterm elections. On Point Politics estimates that 1.6 million ballots have been cast by early voters across Illinois to date. These waits came as residents prepared for the decisive Tuesday of the election cycle.
The delay did not deter some first-time Illinois voters. Haleigh Carter, who moved from Florida, described the turnout as impressive. Greg Hardy, voting with Carter, said the effort was worth it despite the time spent in line. He noted that the experience reinforced the importance of the process for them.
At the Chicago Board of Elections downtown Supersite, lines moved faster than at the college. Voters there also cast ballots for the U.S. Senate. The race pits Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton against former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy. They are competing for the seat previously held by Sen. Dick Durbin.
Joe, another voter at the Supersite, said he was trying to protect the democracy. Marcellus, a different voter, expressed a desire to see a shift in power followed by concrete action. Both comments reflected the high stakes of the day's voting.
The ballot includes the race for governor, where Democratic incumbent JB Pritzker faces Republican challenger Darren Bailey in a rematch from 2022. All 17 of Illinois' congressional seats are also on the ballot. The outcome of these races will determine the balance of power in Congress.
Election Day arrives Tuesday, November 3. The site administrator at Truman College expects voters to be waiting outside before the location opens at 6 a.m. Results for the governor, Senate, and congressional seats are expected to be tallied through the night.
