Absentee Ballots in Chicago Accepted Sept. 23, Early Voting on Columbus Day

CHICAGO - Chicagoans who have made up their minds about who they want to vote for in the upcoming election will have their opportunity. 2010 marks the first year that absentee ballots would be accepted no matter the reason, and Thurs., Sept. 23, is the first day they'll be collected. Early voting in Chicago will start on Columbus Day, Oct. 12.

There will be 54 early voting locations all across the Chicago area for early voting, including campus locations at Chicago State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University. However, on Columbus Day, only three locations will be open for early voting--the Board of Elections at 69 W. Washington, the 22nd District Police headquarters at 1900 W. Monterey and Welles Park at 2333 W. Sunnyside.

Absentee votes cannot be faxed or e-mailed unless the citizen is living overseas. All other absentee votes, which must be submitted by end of day on Oct. 28, must be submitted by mail, courier or in person. Overseas absentee votes must be received by end of day on Oct. 22. All absentee voting ballots must be submitted only to the Chicago Election Board address at 69 W. Washington.

Because this is the first year that Chicagoans could cast absentee votes without an excuse, such as an illness or disability, canvass groups have been circulating in the area to encourage voters to vote by absentee ballot over going to the polls. Chicagoans who choose to not participate in early voting or absentee voting can come to the polls as usual on Nov. 2.

The voting questions will include selections for whether to amend the Illinois State Constitution; two U.S. Senators (one from November to Jan. 2 and the other from Jan. 2 to the rest of the six-year term); Illinois Governor; Illinois Lieutenant Governor; Illinois Attorney General; Illinois Secretary of State; Illinois Comptroller; Illinois Treasurer; all districts for the Representatives in Congress; State Senators in districts 1, 4, 7,10, 13 and16); all districts for State Representatives; three Water Reclamation District Commissioners; Cook County Board President; Cook County Clerk; Cook County Treasurer; Cook County Sheriff; Cook County Assessor; all districts for Cook County Commissioners; District 1 for Cook County Board of (Tax) Review; judges and/or justices to fill vacancies in the State Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Circuit Court and Sub-Circuits; a yes or no vote for judicial retention; and any local referenda questions that qualify for the ballot.

Sources:
Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago
"First Person: Hitting Chicago's Sidewalks for Democratic Voters"