New downtown Chicago supersite opens for early voting
Early voting for the 2026 primary began Thursday morning for anyone who lives within the Chicago city limits.
Watch CBS News
Early voting for the 2026 primary began Thursday morning for anyone who lives within the Chicago city limits.
Bever joins Joe Donlon and Irika Sargent with information on election security and integrity, and what the board is expecting for polling places on Election Day Tuesday.
Sheriff Tom Dart said this implementation of law enforcement makes his deputies proactive instead of reactive.
The final accuracy and logic tests were under way Monday at the Chicago Loop Supersite, at 191 N. Clark St.
Per state law, all late-arriving but properly postmarked ballots must be counted.
Chicago election officials on Friday will begin scanning and counting thousands of mail-in ballots, a day after workers spent the day checking signatures on those ballots. Poll watchers for both of the Democratic candidates for Cook County State’s Attorney will be there to keep an eye on the process, with that race still too close to call. Max Bever, with the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, helps break down the process.
CBS 2's cameras were rolling Thursday as several checks were made on mail-in ballots.
Technically, the deadline is April 2, so it could take almost two more weeks to determine whether Eileen O’Neill Burke or Clayton Harris III will be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. CBS 2’s Tara Molina reports.
The demonstration ballot listed the names of various historical figures with Chicago or Illinois connections as candidates for various offices.
Younger voters 18 to 24 are the smallest voting bloc to show up to the polls so far.
Younger voters 18 to 24 are the smallest voting bloc to show up to the polls so far. CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reports.
Candidates must submit signatures from registered voters in order to appear on the ballot. That is a mandate you won't find in every big city.
The second page, or Ballot B, has all the judges up for retention.
Election officials statewide say they are doing everything they can to protect your vote.
If you need to brush up on the candidates in your district or see if your polling place has changed, check out the CBS 2 Voter Guide and then be sure to stay with CBS 2 for live Election Night coverage.
"I do think, you know, the Obamas visiting the early voting site lets voters know that it's there, it's open – it's ready for their early votes," said Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Max Bever.
There will also be extended weekday hours for the supersite (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm) from June 20 to June 24, the week before Election Day.
Early voting for the 2020 general election still had a little bit of time to go as of late Monday afternoon, but it had already set records by that time – along with mail-in ballots.
Election Day is coming up Tuesday, but yes, you still have time to vote early.
Experts expect the vote totals to break records, but as CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reported, there is one total in particular that Chicago leaders are watching closely.
"Regardless of what happens, November 3rd will be a big day for all of us, and our goal is clear: keep Chicagoans safe as we take part in this momentous day," Lightfoot said.
It's the first time ever the arena is being used as a voting site, and the arena will be open to all Chicago voters on Election Day.
In light of the pandemic, there's been a major push urging Americans to vote by mail or vote early for the Nov. 3 elections.
"When we receive those ballots back, we have a team of three judges who must review the envelope. And make sure the signature matches what we have on our voter rolls for that particular voter, and it has to be a unanimous decision by all the judges."
Many voters lined up as early as 6 a.m., more than two hours before the Loop Super Site opened at 8:30 a.m. It wasn't long before the line to vote stretched for blocks.
Liam Stanton, one of the 10 candidates for mayor of Chicago, announced Monday morning that he was withdrawing from the race and endorsing Alexi Giannoulias.
Family and friends of a woman killed in a boat crash on the Fox River last month came together over the weekend for a visitation.
Chicago police issued a business alert this past weekend, warning store employees to be vigilant as detectives investigate a pair of robberies.
A group of activists and elected officials was set to file reports with the Chicago Police Department Monday, alleging crimes committed by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz last fall.
A car was left rolled over completely on its side early Monday after a crash with another vehicle in Chicago's Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
Liam Stanton, one of the 10 candidates for mayor of Chicago, announced Monday morning that he was withdrawing from the race and endorsing Alexi Giannoulias.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
In a narrow 50-49 vote, President Trump's former defense lawyer was confirmed as attorney general in a vote early Saturday.
The White House has informed Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, that President Trump is considering firing her.
A federal appeals court said the White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct the 90,000-square-foot ballroom. President Trump said the administration will appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Trump administration is taking aim at power grid operator PJM Interconnection over rising electricity bills that affect Illinois and Indiana residents.
Chicago remained the most bed bug-treated city in the country, according to Orkin's latest annual rankings covering a full year of residential and commercial treatment data.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul this week warned residents cleaning up from last month's storms to be on the lookout for scams.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed several new consumer protections into law, including a ban on junk fees.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
In a wide-ranging interview with the CBS News partner BBC News, Hunter Biden grew emotional as he discussed his father's condition, describing it as very sad to watch.
With the cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce growing and consumers wary of the products on grocery shelves, many in Chicago are turning to local farmers market for fresh and safe greens.
East Chicago, Indiana is being placed on a precautionary boil water advisory starting Monday morning for planned installations that could affect water safety.
A new Northwestern Medicine study on long COVID shows women show more neurological symptoms than men.
A lettuce supplier to fast-food giant Taco Bell has been linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, the CDC said.
The Original Rainbow Cone celebrated its 100th anniversary on Sunday with a special event at its Beverly location.
The Shops at North Bridge on the Magnificent Mile announced plans Thursday for a multimillion-dollar renovation project.
While the building that housed the flagship Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont Avenue has been torn down, the renowned Chicago restaurant chain is now set to open a new Lakeview location.
Nationally, data centers used 17.4 billion gallons of water in 2023 — a figure projected to reach 72.6 billion gallons by 2028, raising concerns about states' water supplies.
Chicago's Wishbone Restaurant will soon be closing after 36 years in business.
Crews need about a week and a half to tear down the festival site before the city can begin its own inspection — and past cleanup costs have topped $1 million.
Vincent Pastore played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on all six seasons of "The Sopranos," which aired from 1999 to 2007.
If weather forces an evacuation, shelter sites are located at Grant Park North, Grant Park South, and Millennium Lakeside Garages, accessible through the vehicle entrance on Michigan Avenue.
Grant Park was filled with tens of thousands of people Thursday for the start of Lollapalooza, as warm weather greeted festivalgoers on day one of the four-day music festival.
Academy Award-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died in a motorcycle crash.
Starting at 10 a.m., the public can ask a scientist questions about lions at Lincoln Park Zoo. There are also lion-themed activities for the whole family.
People paid their respects to Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines at the Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, Ryan-Parke Funeral Home in Park Ridge.
Darius Johnson is live on Catalpa Avenue in Andersonville, where a large portion of a tree came down on multiple cars during storms overnight Sunday into Monday.
Gas prices are stubbornly stuck around $4 per gallon nationwide, up more than $1 since the day the war with Iran broke out. Taurean Small reports.
Chicago police issued a business alert this past weekend, warning store employees to be vigilant as detectives investigate a pair of robberies.
Chicagoans were likely awoken by thunderclaps as loud and intense as explosions overnight Sunday into Monday — and another round of heavy rain with flooded roads and downed trees came along with it.
Bally's said it's "resetting the pace of construction" on its permanent Chicago casino amid a dispute with City Hall over video gambling.
Liam Stanton, one of the 10 candidates for mayor of Chicago, announced Monday morning that he was withdrawing from the race and endorsing Alexi Giannoulias.
Three people were shot, and a fourth person was also injured, in a drive-by incident in Chicago's North Austin neighborhood Sunday morning.
A woman is dead after a chain of hit-and-run crashes on the northern end of Chicago's Lakeview community Saturday night.
Neighbors of a South Side animal feed plant have complained about the noxious smell and air quality for years. Now the city of Chicago and state of Illinois are suing Pullman Innovations to clean up the air, as well as for alleged illegal work and permit violations.
The owners of a Far South Side funeral home where dozens of decomposing bodies were found earlier this week have run into trouble with state regulators before over their handling of bodies at a crematory in the south suburbs.
University of Illinois researchers have found a correlation between more green spaces and less violence in neighborhoods. A group in Chicago is planting trees with the mission to bring beauty and safety to the whole city.
Security video captured the moment a utility pole fell in a parking lot behind a La Grange Park, Illinois, animal hospital, igniting a fire that destroyed multiple cars.
An Illinois Tollway glitch that left thousands of drivers with unexpected warnings about unpaid tolls stemmed from an extra digit in codes within the system's computers, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Colson Montgomery's 26th homer, a three-run shot, capped Chicago's four-run third inning and the White Sox held on to beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 on Sunday.
Chicago Bears receiver Luther Burden III will reportedly miss a little bit of time with a groin injury he suffered at practice on Saturday.
Ian Happ hit a two-run homer, Miguel Amaya added a three-run shot and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Sunday.
Don Nelson was one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State.
Munetaka Murakami homered and Tristan Peters and Chase Meidroth each drove in a pair of runs in Chicago's five-run sixth inning as the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 Saturday, snapping a season-worst four-game skid.
Chicago police issued a business alert this past weekend, warning store employees to be vigilant as detectives investigate a pair of robberies.
A woman was found stabbed to death early Sunday morning in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood.
Two Chicago men were arrested early Sunday morning following a pursuit along the Borman Expressway in Northwest Indiana.
Chicago police this weekend were looking for help from the public in finding a man accused of shooting a 16-year-old boy in the West Lawn neighborhood earlier this year.
At least four people were killed, and 12 more were wounded, in shootings in Chicago this weekend as of early Sunday afternoon. The victims ranged in age from 17 to 50.
