Cook County Clerk Orr Announces New First Day Record for Early Voting

Originally published Monday, October 22, 2012 at the Cook County Clerk's website: More than 13,500 suburban Cook County voters cast ballots Monday, setting a new record for the first day of Early Voting, Cook County Clerk David Orr announced. Turnout is already impressive and I hope it keeps up until early voting ends Nov. 3, Orr said. We are sending extra help to the early voting sites to help handle the crowds. As of 5 p.m., 13,585 voters cast ballots at the 44 suburban Cook County sites. Voters in line at 5 p.m. are allowed to vote, so the total will increase. In 2008, 7,733 ballots were cast on the first day of Early Voting and more than 226,000 early votes were cast before Election Day. However, today is more similar to Day 8 of Early Voting in 2008 because Early Voting is now compressed to 13 days. On Day 8 in 2008, 10,668 early votes were cast. The busiest Early Voting sites were Orland Township Hall, Arlington Heights Village Hall and Matteson Village Hall. Voters do not need an excuse to vote early, but they must provide a government-issued photo ID. Suburban Cook County voters may use any of the 44 Early Voting locations or the Clerk's downtown office at 69 W. Washington, Chicago. Orr also reminded voters they still have time to apply for a mail ballot. Don't wait until the last minute to request a mail ballot because you want enough time for your vote to count, he said. Voters can obtain a mail ballot application by: Downloading and printing the mail ballot application (applications are also available in Spanish, Hindi and Chinese), Calling the Clerk's office at (312) 603-0946 to request that we mail you an application, or Picking up an application at any of the Clerk's six office locations.