Early voting begins at record-setting pace in suburban Cook County

Early voting for the Nov. 8 election began Monday morning at more than 50 locations in suburban Cook County, and within just a few hours already was setting records.

The 52 Early Voting sites throughout suburban Cook County are an increase over the 43 sites the Cook County Clerk's office operated for the March primary. By 2:45 p.m. Monday, 19,281 ballots had been cast - shattering the previous opening day record of 13,779, set in October 2012. Early voting continues through Nov. 7.

"All forms of early voting continue to grow in popularity," county Clerk David Orr said in a news release. "We anticipate more than 100,000 people will vote by mail this year."

Voters do not need to provide an excuse or reason why they cannot vote on Election Day. Government-issued photo ID is not required but is helpful if there is a question about the voter's registration, address or signature. Providing an ID can also speed up the process because the Cook County Clerk's office has ID card readers at every check-in station.

Early voting locations in the Northwest suburbs include village halls in Arlington Heights, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Barrington Hills, Hoffman Estates and Streamwood, as well as the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows, the Trickster Art Gallery in Schaumburg and the Des Plaines Public Library. For a full list of locations, visit www.cookctyclerk.com/elections.

Early voting is conducted on touch screens that store every ballot style in the county, permitting any voter in suburban Cook to vote at any location. Voters' ballots will remain secret and securely stored, according to the clerk's office.

For more information, call (312) 603-0900.