Early voting, mail ballot turnout in Cook County surpasses 2022 levels by nearly 30%

Early voting and mail-in ballot turnout in suburban Cook County for the midterm elections has surpassed turnout in the 2022 gubernatorial election by nearly 30% so far, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said Monday.

More than 242,000 residents have cast ballots during early voting as of Monday morning. Nearly 107,000 mail ballots have been returned and 11,000 are in the postal service pipeline.

Early voting turnout is expected to exceed 2022 levels by 50,000, and mail-in ballot turnout is also projected to surpass 2022 levels by the same margin, said Edmund Michalowski, deputy clerk of elections.

“Our priority has been to make voting as convenient and accessible as possible,” Gordon said.

Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times

Early voting has been available at 56 locations over the past two weeks and will conclude at the end of the day Monday.

Gordon also addressed residents’ concerns about federal agents potentially appearing at polling places on Election Day. She said the office has no information indicating that federal officers will visit any polling locations, and added that Illinois law protects voters from interference, intimidation and obstruction within the protected areas surrounding polling places.

“No voter should ever feel intimidated, threatened or discouraged from exercising their right to vote,” Gordon said.

Following the press conference, Gordon cast her own ballot at the early voting site at 69 W. Washington St.

Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times