Chicago Voters Face Hours-Long Lines as Early Voting Surges Ahead of 2024 Election

With just a few days left until the 2024 presidential election, early voters in Chicago are encountering significant delays at various polling sites. At locations such as the Merlo branch of the Chicago Public Library and the Humboldt Park Branch Library, voters have reported waiting in lines for two to three hours or more to cast their ballots.

The long wait times are attributed to high voter turnout, although the numbers are not as high as those seen in 2020. According to the Chicago Board of Elections, nearly 353,000 ballots had been cast by Thursday, including over 220,000 from early voting sites and more than 132,000 mail-in ballots. This pace is ahead of the 2016 election but falls short of the 2020 numbers, which were influenced by emergency laws passed during the pandemic.

Despite the inconvenience, voters remain determined to make their voices heard. Margaret Anderson, a voter at the Merlo branch, expressed optimism about the high turnout, noting the presence of many young voters. Chelsea Roberts, another voter, stated that the wait times would not deter her from voting.

The Chicago Board of Elections has advised voters to consider alternative sites to avoid long lines. Max Bever, a spokesperson for the board, suggested researching other locations that might be more convenient, given the varying popularity of sites due to local population density.

Early voting sites across all 50 Chicago wards and a downtown supersite are open every day through Election Day. Voters like Zack Cylinder and his wife, who initially faced long lines at the Lincoln Park site, eventually found shorter wait times at the Loop supersite.

The high turnout and long lines reflect a broader trend of increased early voting across the country. Experts note that early voting trends have shown a shift in voter behavior, with more people opting to cast their ballots before Election Day. This trend is expected to continue in future cycles.