The Chicago Board of Elections will reopen two early voting sites at 9 a.m.: the downtown super-site at 191 N. Clark St., and at the board’s offices at 69 W. Washington St. on the sixth floor.

Early voting for the primary election began Thursday, but election officials had to pause voting late Friday following a court order to remove Ashonta C. Rice as a candidate for Cook County circuit court judge.

MORE: Your guide to voting in the 2024 Illinois primary election

The Illinois Appellate Court entered a stay of enforcement Feb. 5 to take Rice off the Democratic Party ballot ahead of the March 19 election.

Election officials paused operations to reprogram the early voting machines. Democratic vote-by-mail ballots were not impacted because they had not been sent out yet. Those ballots are being reprinted and will be mailed out to voters as soon as possible, according to the election board.

Before voting was paused, 314 ballots were cast on Thursday and Friday, an election board spokesperson said.

Votes cast for Rice aren’t currently being counted as the matter is being appealed to the state Supreme Court, the Sun-Times reported on Sunday.

Early voting locations in all 50 wards will open March 4.

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While Trump said he “likes and respects” Bailey, he cited Bost’s long-time support as the impetus behind his endorsement.

“Mike Bost was one of the first House committee chairmen to endorse my campaign, and Mike was a stalwart supporter of our America First agenda during my record-setting administration,” the former president said on Truth Social. “He is working hard to secure the border, champion American agriculture, strengthen the military, grow the economy, and protect and defend our under-siege Second Amendment. Mike Bost has my complete and total endorsement!”

Bost’s campaign has also picked up support from several other key entities and officials, including the National Rifle Association, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference’s chair.

Bost was first elected to Congress in 2014, and cruised to victory in 2022 with 75% of the vote in his favor. This marks the first time since 0218 that he has faced opposition in a primary election, with the former gubernatorial candidate running to unseat him in Congress.

Bailey won the Republican primary for governor in the 2022 election, collecting 57.7% of the vote. He was ultimately defeated by incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the general election.

Bailey received Trump’s endorsement in that race, appearing at a rally with the former president three days before Election Day.

According to the State Board of Elections, registrations postmarked by Tuesday’s date will be accepted via the mail, and voters can visit their local election authority to submit documentation in person.

Fortunately, even if residents miss Tuesday’s deadline, there are still ways to vote in the March primary election.

The easiest method is to visit the Board of Elections’ website and to register to vote online. That deadline comes 16 days before the March 19 primary, giving voters until March 3 to register on the website.

Outside of online registration, voters can also take advantage of grace period registration, which allows residents to register to vote up until, and including, Election Day.

That type of registration is available at the offices of local election authorities, at early voting sites beginning 15 days prior to the election, and even at some polling places on Election Day itself, according to the BOE.

Grace period voter registration requires residents to:

-Be U.S. citizens

-To be at least 18 years of age on the date of the primary, or to be 18 years old by the date of the 2024 general election in November.

-Two forms of identification.

More information on grace period registration can be found on the BOE’s website.

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Board of Elections spokesperson Max Bever said the notice came late Friday night and will require a lot of work before early voting can resume at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, last Friday we got a court order late in the day that asked us to remove a candidate’s name from the ballot,” Bever said.

“That means we have got to reprint the vote-by-mail ballots that were already printed and ready to go out for our early voting, and we have to re-program those early voting touch screens,” Bever said of the work that has been going on over the weekend.

The candidate is Orland Park attorney Ashonta C. Rice, who was ordered removed because of a successful challenge to the use of her maiden name on her nominating petitions.

NBC Chicago has reached out to her campaign but have not received a response.

“We do ask that voters have patience while we comply with this court order,” Bever said.

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According to the Board of Elections, more than 300 ballots had been cast before the order came down. That means any votes for Rice will not be tallied. If a high court reverses the appellate court decision, those “sequestered” votes could be tallied at a later date.

At this stage of early voting, the Board typically expects about two to 300 ballots be cast each day.

The court order will cost the Board tens of thousands of dollars, but it will also cost Chicago voters days on the early voting calendar.

Bever said it also highlights how the election landscape has changed in recent years, instead of the days when the courts and voters could focus on a single election day.

“The popularity of early voting, of vote by mail has really pushed these deadlines earlier,” he said.

The Board of Elections plans to open the downtown supersites at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning and get thousands of reprinted Democratic vote-by-mail ballots out as soon as possible.

The Illinois Presidential Primary and associated election days are March 19.

In order to help voters prepare for the election, we have compiled a list of essential resources, detailed information and a slew of links to ensure that voters can make their voices heard as the election season gets underway in earnest.

Before we proceed, it’s important to note that the most up-to-date and detailed information and specific answers to questions can be found by contacting your local election authority.

The fastest way to find contact information for your county clerk is to visit the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website.

When is the 2024 primary election in Illinois

The 2024 primary election in Illinois will take place on Tuesday, March 19.

Early voting will begin in early February, with additional sites coming online approximately two weeks prior to the election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

How to register to vote in Illinois

Voters in Illinois have numerous methods to register to vote, including same-day voter registration and grace period registration even after the February deadline to register passes.

Residents seeking to register to vote must:

-Be a United States citizen

-Must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day

-Must live in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to an election

-Must not be serving a prison sentence as a result of a criminal conviction

-May not claim the right to vote anywhere else

Automatic voter registration is available in the state of Illinois, including when obtaining a driver’s license. When obtaining a REAL ID-compliant license, residents will be registered automatically unless they opt-out. For non-REAL ID-compliant licenses, individuals may be asked if they would like to register.

Voter registration can also be submitted to a local county clerk’s office via the U.S. Postal Service. Registering in that fashion must be done no more than 28 days prior to an election, which would fall on Feb. 21, 2024 for the primary.

Voters can also register online, with a deadline of March 3.

Finally, grace-period voter registration is available at local county clerk’s offices or at participating early voting polling places. Same-day registration is also available at some polling places, with ballots submitted on a provisional basis prior to being accepted and tabulated.

A full list of information can be found here.

HOW TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS

There are four different ways to cast ballots in the state of Illinois, beginning before the election with in-person early voting and voting by mail.

All local election authorities in the state are required to offer early voting sites, with many counties opening their sites on Feb. 8, 2024, 40 days ahead of the primary election.

Most counties will open additional early voting sites on March 4, two weeks prior to the election.

Voting by mail is also an increasingly popular option for residents. There are a variety of ways to submit mail-in ballots, which we will detail in the next section of this guide, but applications for mail-in ballots must be received by March 14, and the ballots themselves must be returned or postmarked by March 19, the day of the election.

Members of the military or Illinois residents living overseas also have several options for obtaining and returning ballots, which are detailed on the State Board of Elections’ website.

Finally, there is traditional voting on Election Day. Voters are not required to present an identification to vote in Illinois unless they are changing items on their registration, or if their voter registration documents had incomplete information.

We will provide additional insight into that type of voting in a later section of this guide.

How to vote by mail in Illinois

Any registered voter in the state of Illinois can cast their ballot via the mail for any reason.

Voters must apply for mail-in ballots by submitting forms to their local election authority. Those forms can be submitted online in some areas, while in others they can be downloaded and either mailed in or submitted in person.

The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is March 14.

Ballots can be returned to your local election authority, or can be submitted via a secure drop box. A full list of drop boxes can be found on the State Board of Elections’ website.

Ballots can also be returned via the mail, but most be postmarked by March 19. Ballots must arrive at the local election authority no later than April 2 to be counted.

More information, and tips on how you can still vote if you decide to cast a ballot in person instead, can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

How to vote early in the Chicago area

Early voting began on Feb. 8 in many jurisdictions, but the city of Chicago’s supersite didn’t officially open its doors on Feb. 15. Voting at that site, however, was soon delayed.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, early voting at both the Board supersite and Board offices are closed until further notice,  due to an order from the Appellate Court of Illinois regarding a candidate’s placement on the ballot.

Due to the court order, the Chicago Board of Elections must reprogram early voting touchscreen machines to reflect the change.

Full information on sites and opening dates can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

How to vote on Election Day

Voters can cast ballots on Election Day, but may need to present forms of identification in some limited circumstances.

According to officials, no identification is required if the voter is already registered at their current address and is voting in the correct precinct. A voter’s signature can be used to verify their residency at the time of voting.

A voter needs one form of identification if election judges have reason to challenge their right to vote, or if their mail-in registration did not contain their driver’s license or state ID number, or a Social Security number.

Finally, two forms of identification are required for voters seeking same-day voter registration on Election Day. Two forms are also required if a voter is changing their address, or if they are filing to change the legal name on their voter registration.

A full list of acceptable forms of identification can be found here.

When are polls open on Election Day?

Polls in Illinois are required to open at 6 a.m. on Election Day, and will close at 7 p.m.

Certain circumstances can lead to polling places remaining open for extended hours, but the most important information is that if a voter is in line when polls close, they will be allowed to cast a ballot.

How to find your polling place?

The Illinois State Board of Elections operates a website where voters can use their five-digit ZIP code to find their polling place. You can find that site here.

Can you register to vote on Election Day?

Same-day voter registration is available at specific polling places, which can be found via a tool on the State Board of Elections’ website.

In order to register to vote on the day of an election, a voter will need two forms of identification, with all acceptable forms found here.

Who’s on the ballot in Illinois

In order to vote in the 2024 primary election, voters will need to declare their choice of ballot when they arrive at their polling place.

In the 2024 primary, Illinois voters will choose their preferred nominees in all of the races, including the presidential race, which will appear at the top of ballots.

Voters will also choose their preferred presidential delegates, who will formally cast votes on behalf of their candidate during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions later this year.

Outside of the presidency, voters will also choose nominees for the November election for their respective members of Congress, with all 17 members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation facing reelection this year.

All 118 members of Illinois’ House of Representatives will be up for re-election in 2024, as will approximately one-third of the state’s 58 senators.

Some districts will also have primary votes on Supreme Court justices, with elections in the first and fourth districts to provide nominees for vacancies to those seats.

Voters will also determine nominees for appellate court, circuit courts and subcircuit courts when they cast their ballots.

Finally, some counties will also have countywide races to decide in 2024.

Sample ballots can be found on the local election authority’s website in your area.

What are the races to watch in Illinois?

The presidential election will feature two contested races on primary ballots, with President Joe Biden facing a trio of challengers and former President Donald Trump facing former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Elsewhere, multiple members of Congress will face high-profile primary challenges, including Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, who will go up against Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez in the fourth district. Rep. Mike Bost will face a Republican challenge from former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey in the 12^th district, while Rep. Danny Davis will face four Democratic challengers in the seventh district.

More information on the races to watch can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

What else is on the ballot?

In addition to candidates, some voters will also be asked referendum questions on their ballots.

For example, voters in the city of Chicago will be presented with a referendum asking if they approve of a so-called “mansion tax” that would fundamentally change the way real estate transfers are taxed in the city.

For a complete sample ballot, be sure to visit your local election authority’s website.

How to research judges on the ballot

Judges are elected from specific districts or circuits in the state of Illinois, so the judges that will appear on your ballot will be different depending on where you live.

The Illinois Supreme Court has seven total seats, including three from the first district, which represents Cook County.

In this year’s election cycle, there will be an election in that First District, as Justice Joy Cunningham will run for election to a full 10-year term after replacing former Chief Justice Ann Burke in Dec. 2022.

There is also an election in the fourth district, as Justice Lisa Holder White will run for a full 10-year term on the bench after replacing former Justice Rita Garman.

The fourth district covers a slew of counties in western and central Illinois, including Ogle, Lee, Peoria and Sangamon counties.

There are numerous other vacancies in the Appellate Court, including four in the First District, and at least 11 vacancies in the Cook County circuit court, among others.

In the lead-up to the election, numerous organizations will release their recommendations on the qualifications of the judges, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Council of Lawyers and the Illinois State Bar Association, among others.

Those websites will be updated with information as the election draws nearer.

What should I bring to vote in person?

If you are already registered to vote at your current address, you will not need to bring a government-issued photo ID to vote, but it could be helpful if any questions arise about your registration, address or signature.

If you are registering to vote on the day of the election, or need to make changes to your registration such as a new address or a legally-changed name, you can do so, but will need two forms of ID.

Finally, voters are allowed to bring notes into the booth with information on which candidates they’ll be voting for.

Can I take a ballot selfie?

Taking photos with your ballot is prohibited by state law, as it’s a felony to mark your ballot so another person can see how you voted.

Granted, state election officials have said it’s “unlikely” anyone would be prosecuted for such a photo, but taking a picture with a sticker or your polling place is far safer.

What should I do if I run into any problems voting?

Voters who are challenged on their voting eligibility, who experience voter intimidation or have trouble at their polling place are encouraged to report such incidents.

If you run into any of the above issues, or have any questions about the voting process, more than 100 organizations across the U.S. operate an Election Protection hotline, which can be reached at:

1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683): English

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682): Spanish/English

1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683): Asian languages/English

1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287): Arabic/English

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the organizations that helps operate the hotline during election season.

Residents can also text MYVOTE to 866-687-8683 to get help from trained volunteers. Assistance is also available on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @866ourvote, and live-chatting can be accessed on the group’s website.

How to get live Illinois election results

Election Day coverage will be airing live on NBC Chicago throughout the evening and at 10 p.m. Coverage of up-to-the-minute race results can also be found on NBCChicago.com and on the NBC Chicago app, where you can turn on notifications for all the latest race results.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, early voting at both the Board supersite and Board offices are closed until further notice.

Officials said the issue arises from the placement of candidate Ashonta C. Rice for Judge of the Circuit Court (Vacancy of Sullivan) on the Democratic ballot.

On Feb. 5, the Illinois Appellate Court entered a stay of enforcement that kept Rice’s name on the ballot.

On Friday, the Appellate Court lifted the stay of enforcement, confirming that Rice’s name be removed from the ballot.

Due to the court order, the Chicago Board of Elections must reprogram early voting touchscreen machines to reflect the change.

Vote-by-mail ballots have yet to be distributed to voters, as officials say ballots will be sent out as soon as possible.

According to the CBOE, early voting will kick off at the CBOE’s downtown supersite on Thursday at 9 a.m., and will continue through the election on March 19.

The supersite is located at 191 North Clark Street, and all Chicago residents, regardless of where they live, can cast ballots at the site.

MORE: Your guide to voting in the 2024 Illinois primary election

Another early voting location will also open on the sixth floor at 69 West Washington on Thursday.

Early voting will expand on March 4, with sites opening in each of the city’s 50 wards, according to officials.

Where to vote early in the suburbs

Most suburbs in the Chicago area have already launched early voting sites aside from suburban Cook County. Residents who live in Cook County, but live outside of the city of Chicago, can cast ballots at the county’s early voting site beginning on Feb. 21.

That early voting site can be found on the pedway at 69 West Washington in Chicago, according to officials.

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Voters in the city of Chicago will be presented with a referendum on their ballots in the 2024 primary election, asking if they approve of a so-called “mansion tax” that would fundamentally change the way real estate transfers are taxed in the city.

According to the language of the referendum, voters will decide whether the city should move from the current flat tax model on real estate transfers to a graduated tax, which would impact all transactions of $1 million or more.

Supporters say that the ordinance would result in a reduction in the transfer tax for approximately 94% of properties in the city, but critics warn that it could have a devastating impact on the commercial real estate market.

If a majority of voters support the referendum, the Chicago City Council would be required to evaluate and pass the ordinance in the spring, according to proponents of the bill.

So what exactly would the transfer tax change entail?

Currently, real estate transfers in Chicago are taxed at a rate of $3.75 for each $500 of the purchase price.

The proposed tax structure would cut that tax to $3 for every $500 of the transfer price, so long as the property is sold for less than $1 million. That represents a reduction of 20%.

An increased rate would then be applied to the property value between $1 million and $1.5 million, with those funds taxed at a rate of $10 for every $500 in purchase price. That would represent an increase of 233% over the current rate.

For any value over $1.5 million, the transfer tax would be boosted to $15 for every $500 in value, an increase of 400%.

According to the text of the referendum, funds generated from the increased taxes would go toward initiatives aimed at combating houselessness in the city.  

“The revenue from the increase is to be used for the purpose of addressing homelessness, including providing permanent affordable housing and the services necessary to obtain and maintain permanent housing in the city of Chicago,” the text of the referendum reads.

Under the provisions of the transfer tax, these rates would be paid by the buyer of the real estate, unless the buyer is exempt from the tax under state law. Specific circumstances in which a buyer would be exempt can be found via the state’s real estate transfer reporting forms.

In those cases, the tax would be paid by the seller.

Supporters of the ordinance say that the tax would generate $100 million annually.

Nearly 94% of properties sold in Chicago would see a reduction in taxes because they’re valued at less than $1 million, according to officials quoted by WTTW Chicago.

The proposal also would exempt developments that are aimed at affordable housing, according to officials.

The funds would be used to build permanent housing that will feature substance abuse counseling and other wraparound services, according to supporters.

“Your average home buyer will see a reduction in the amount that they have to spend in the real estate transfer tax as a result of this change,” Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa told Block Club Chicago. “But we’re also then asking the very top of the market, some of the biggest corporations in the world, that as they purchase property in the city of Chicago, that they pay a little more.”

Critics of the tax increase say that it would have a devastating impact on commercial property sales, as those owners are already feeling the impacts of more businesses having employees work from home, reducing overhead costs and occupancy rates, according to LP Legal.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, commercial property transactions in Chicago totaled approximately $5.3 billion in the first half of 2023, a 51% reduction from the previous year.

Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, writing on behalf of the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute, criticized the measure for its disproportionate impact on commercial properties, and warned that the measure could result in lower-than-expected revenues because of the decline of commercial occupancy in Chicago, which would then impact valuations on property.

Lawsuits have been filed claiming that the referendum is too vague, according to real estate publication The Real Deal. Plaintiffs in the suits argue that the city would not be sufficiently bound to spend the funds on affordable housing and other efforts to combat houselessness.

The National Association of Realtors has also spoken out against the proposed ordinance, saying that the impacts on commercial business will ultimately impact homeowners as the city makes efforts to cope with potential funding shortfalls.

According to the Chicago Board of Elections, early voting will kick off at the CBOE’s downtown supersite on Thursday at 9 a.m., and will continue through the election on March 19.

The supersite is located at 191 North Clark Street, and all Chicago residents, regardless of where they live, can cast ballots at the site.

Another early voting location will also open on the sixth floor at 69 West Washington on Thursday.

Early voting will expand on March 4, with sites opening in each of the city’s 50 wards, according to officials.

As for other communities, most suburbs in the Chicago area launched early voting sites on Thursday, aside from suburban Cook County. Residents who live in Cook County, but live outside of the city of Chicago, can cast ballots at the county’s early voting site beginning on Feb. 21.

That early voting site can be found on the pedway at 69 West Washington in Chicago, according to officials.

More details on early voting sites, and which races will be on your ballot when you vote, can be found on the NBC Chicago app.  

The primary election will be held March 19 in Illinois.

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of early voting dates and locations:

Cook County:

For residents in suburban Cook County, early voting will begin on Feb. 21 at the board’s downtown Chicago location at 69 West Washington Pedway.

Early voting at all other sites in the county will begin on March 4 and run through March 18.

A full list of sites can be found on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.

DeKalb County:

Early voting will begin on Feb. 8 according to officials, but a list of sites has not yet been finalized.

You can find more information on the DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder’s website.

DuPage County:

Early voting will begin at five locations across DuPage County on Feb. 8, including the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. The Addison Township Office, the Naperville Municipal Center, the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale and the Westmont Public Library will all host early voting sites.

Additional locations will open on March 4. A full list of early voting sites has not yet been released, but information on early voting can be found on the DuPage County website.

Officials also urge residents to check a new precinct map that was passed by the County Board in June 2023, with many residents having new precinct numbers for the coming election.

Grundy County:

Early voting is set to begin at the Grundy County Courthouse’s lobby in Morris on Feb. 8, and will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on voting can be found on the Grundy County Election Department’s website.

Kane County:

Early voting will begin at the Kane County Elections Main Office in Geneva and the Aurora Satellite Location will begin on Feb. 8.

More sites will open around the county on March 4, with the final list currently in the works and scheduled to be released by early February, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kane County Clerk’s Office website.

Kankakee County:

Early voting will get underway at the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office on Thursday, Feb. 8, according to officials.

Additional voting sites will open in Manteno and Bourbonnais beginning on March 4, according to the county clerk’s office.

More information can be found on the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office website.

Kendall County:

Early voting begins at the Kendall County Clerk’s Office, located in Yorkville, on Feb. 8. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday.

Early voting will be available at the Oswego Village Hall beginning on March 4, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kendall County Clerk and Recorder’s office website.

Lake County:

Early voting will begin at the Lake County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan on Feb. 8, and will be available on weekdays.

Early voting will expand on March 4, and a full list of sites can be found here.

For more information on early voting in Lake County, visit the county clerk’s office website.

LaSalle County:

Early voting begins at the LaSalle County Clerk’s Office, located in Ottawa, on Feb. 8, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

McHenry County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the county clerk’s office in Woodstock, and will expand on March 4 to other locations.

More information on early voting can be found on the County Clerk’s website.  

Will County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the Will County Clerk’s Office in Joliet, and will expand to a slew of different sites on March 4.

A full list of early voting sites, and information for voting hours at each location, can be found on the Will County Clerk’s office website.  

City of Chicago

Early voting begins at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite, located at 191 North Clark, on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Early voting in all 50 wards of Chicago will open on March 4, according to officials.  

Any voter in the city of Chicago can vote at the supersite, or at any of the ward-based early voting sites prior to Election Day, according to city officials.

A list of those sites, and more information on early voting procedures, can be found on the Board of Elections’ website.

In fact, early voting will open this week in many locations, with residents able to cast ballots for the primary election at their local county clerk’s offices.

According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the official date for the 2024 primary is March 19, but there are a wide variety of ways to cast ballots before then.

That list includes in-person early voting, which will begin in most suburban Chicago counties on Thursday. NBC Chicago has compiled a list of sites, as well as links for additional information on where to cast ballots.

As for Chicago residents, the city’s supersite, located at 191 North Clark, will open for early voting on Feb. 15. Suburban Cook County residents can begin their early voting at the county’s supersite, located in the pedway at 69 West Washington in Chicago, on Feb. 21.

Aside from early voting, vote-by-mail applications remain open, with all ballots needing to be postmarked by March 19 in order to be counted in the election.

As for the races on that ballot, tops on the list will be the presidential primary. President Joe Biden is on the Democratic ballot, along with several other challengers. Former President Donald Trump will be on the Republican ballot after the state’s Board of Elections opted not to remove him from the voting.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is also on the ballot as her campaign continues.

In addition, all 17 Congressional districts in Illinois will hold primaries, as will all 118 races for the Illinois State House of Representatives. Finally, a group of Illinois Senate races will also hold primaries, as will State Supreme Court races in the first and fourth districts.

More information on those races can be found on our 2024 Illinois voter’s guide, which is now live on the NBC Chicago website and the NBC Chicago app.

According to representatives of Appellate Court Judge Eileen O’Neill Burke’s candidacy, her ad emphasizes her experience as a former State’s Attorney, defense attorney and now judge.

She says her priority is to go “after the root causes of crime and providing alternative approaches for addiction and mental health issues,” according to the advertisement.

Among the other candidates aiming to replace Foxx is Clayton Harris, also a former prosecutor and a current lecturer at the University of Chicago.

Harris’ campaign did not reply to questions about when they would begin running campaign ads, with the Illinois primary looming on March 19.

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The primary election will be held March 19 in Illinois, but voters will have the ability to cast their votes in early February in nearly every county in the Chicago area.

Curious about when, and where, you can cast your ballot early this election season? Here is a county-by-county breakdown of early voting dates and locations.

Cook County:

For residents in suburban Cook County, early voting will begin on Feb. 21 at the board’s downtown Chicago location at 69 West Washington Pedway.

Early voting at all other sites in the county will begin on March 4 and run through March 18.

A full list of sites can be found on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.

DeKalb County:

Early voting will begin on Feb. 8 according to officials, but a list of sites has not yet been finalized.

You can find more information on the DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder’s website.

DuPage County:

Early voting will begin at five locations across DuPage County on Feb. 8, including the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. The Addison Township Office, the Naperville Municipal Center, the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale and the Westmont Public Library will all host early voting sites.

Additional locations will open on March 4. A full list of early voting sites has not yet been released, but information on early voting can be found on the DuPage County website.

Officials also urge residents to check a new precinct map that was passed by the County Board in June 2023, with many residents having new precinct numbers for the coming election.

Grundy County:

Early voting is set to begin at the Grundy County Courthouse’s lobby in Morris on Feb. 8, and will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on voting can be found on the Grundy County Election Department’s website.

Kane County:

Early voting will begin at the Kane County Elections Main Office in Geneva and the Aurora Satellite Location will begin on Feb. 8.

More sites will open around the county on March 4, with the final list currently in the works and scheduled to be released by early February, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kane County Clerk’s Office website.

Kankakee County:

Early voting will get underway at the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office on Thursday, Feb. 8, according to officials.

Additional voting sites will open in Manteno and Bourbonnais beginning on March 4, according to the county clerk’s office.

More information can be found on the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office website.

Kendall County:

Early voting begins at the Kendall County Clerk’s Office, located in Yorkville, on Feb. 8. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday.

Early voting will be available at the Oswego Village Hall beginning on March 4, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kendall County Clerk and Recorder’s office website.

Lake County:

Early voting will begin at the Lake County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan on Feb. 8, and will be available on weekdays.

Early voting will expand on March 4, and a full list of sites can be found here.

For more information on early voting in Lake County, visit the county clerk’s office website.

LaSalle County:

Early voting begins at the LaSalle County Clerk’s Office, located in Ottawa, on Feb. 8, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

McHenry County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the county clerk’s office in Woodstock, and will expand on March 4 to other locations.

More information on early voting can be found on the County Clerk’s website.  

Will County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the Will County Clerk’s Office in Joliet, and will expand to a slew of different sites on March 4.

A full list of early voting sites, and information for voting hours at each location, can be found on the Will County Clerk’s office website.  

City of Chicago

Early voting begins at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite, located at 191 North Clark, on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Early voting in all 50 wards of Chicago will open on March 4, according to officials.  

Any voter in the city of Chicago can vote at the supersite, or at any of the ward-based early voting sites prior to Election Day, according to city officials.

A list of those sites, and more information on early voting procedures, can be found on the Board of Elections’ website.

The board’s unanimous ruling comes after its hearing officer, a retired judge and Republican, found that a “preponderance of the evidence” shows Trump is ineligible to run for president because he violated a constitutional ban on those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office. But the hearing officer recommended the board let the courts make the ultimate decision.

That will likely be the case now, with the Supreme Court scheduled next week to hear arguments in Trump’s appeal of a Colorado ruling declaring him ineligible for the presidency in that state.

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The nation’s highest court has never ruled on a case involving Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was adopted in 1868 to prevent former confederates from returning to office after the Civil War but has rarely been used since then. Some legal scholars say the post-Civil War clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the U.S. Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Dozens of cases have been filed around the country seeking to bar Trump from the presidency under Section 3. The Colorado case is the only one that succeeded in court.

Maine’s Democratic Secretary of State also ruled that Trump violated the 14th Amendment and is no longer eligible for the White House, but her ruling is on hold until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

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Illinois’ election board on Tuesday is scheduled to consider whether to keep Donald Trump on the state’s primary ballot after a recommendation that he be removed over the Constitution’s insurrection provision.

The meeting of the Illinois State Board of Elections, which is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans, comes a little more than a week before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a similar case from Colorado. That state’s highest court found the 14th amendment barred the Republican former president from the ballot over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

After brief arguments last week, a hearing officer for the Illinois board said it should be up to the courts, rather than election officials, to decide Trump’s eligibility because of the complicated constitutional issues involved. But the opinion from Clark Erickson, a retired judge and a Republican, concluded that a “preponderance of the evidence” presented proved that Trump engaged in insurrection and should be barred from the ballot.

The petition was filed by five voters who argued Trump is ineligible under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a Civil War-era provision that bars anyone who took an oath to support the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.

The attempt to keep Trump’s name off Illinois’ March 19 primary ballot by raising federal constitutional questions is similar to efforts in several other states. The push has notched successes in Colorado and in Maine, where the Democratic secretary of state also recommended removing Trump from the ballot. That decision is on hold pending an eventual ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Free Speech for People, a national voting rights group that is helping lead the Illinois effort, praised the recommendation as “significant” and argued that Illinois law allows the board to make the ballot decision.

“We expect that the board and ultimately Illinois courts will uphold Judge Erickson’s thoughtful analysis of why Trump is disqualified from office, but — with the greatest respect — correct him on why Illinois law authorizes that ruling,” Ron Fein, legal director for the group, wrote in a Sunday statement.

Trump’s campaign has not returned messages seeking comment.

The eight-member Illinois election board is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. To side with the objectors and remove Trump’s name, a majority has to vote in favor. If the vote is tied 4-4, the effort fails and Trump’s name would remain on the ballot.

In order to help voters prepare for the election, we have compiled a list of essential resources, detailed information and a slew of links to ensure that voters can make their voices heard as the election season gets underway in earnest.

Before we proceed, it’s important to note that the most up-to-date and detailed information and specific answers to questions can be found by contacting your local election authority.

The fastest way to find contact information for your county clerk is to visit the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website.

When is the 2024 primary election in Illinois

The 2024 primary election in Illinois will take place on Tuesday, March 19.

Early voting will begin in early February, with additional sites coming online approximately two weeks prior to the election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

How to register to vote in Illinois

Voters in Illinois have numerous methods to register to vote, including same-day voter registration and grace period registration even after the February deadline to register passes.

Residents seeking to register to vote must:

-Be a United States citizen

-Must be 18 years of age or older on Election Day

-Must live in their precinct for at least 30 days prior to an election

-Must not be serving a prison sentence as a result of a criminal conviction

-May not claim the right to vote anywhere else

Automatic voter registration is available in the state of Illinois, including when obtaining a driver’s license. When obtaining a REAL ID-compliant license, residents will be registered automatically unless they opt-out. For non-REAL ID-compliant licenses, individuals may be asked if they would like to register.

Voter registration can also be submitted to a local county clerk’s office via the U.S. Postal Service. Registering in that fashion must be done no more than 28 days prior to an election, which would fall on Feb. 21, 2024 for the primary.

Voters can also register online, with a deadline of March 3.

Finally, grace-period voter registration is available at local county clerk’s offices or at participating early voting polling places. Same-day registration is also available at some polling places, with ballots submitted on a provisional basis prior to being accepted and tabulated.

A full list of information can be found here.

HOW TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS

There are four different ways to cast ballots in the state of Illinois, beginning before the election with in-person early voting and voting by mail.

All local election authorities in the state are required to offer early voting sites, with many counties opening their sites on Feb. 8, 2024, 40 days ahead of the primary election.

Most counties will open additional early voting sites on March 4, two weeks prior to the election.

Voting by mail is also an increasingly popular option for residents. There are a variety of ways to submit mail-in ballots, which we will detail in the next section of this guide, but applications for mail-in ballots must be received by March 14, and the ballots themselves must be returned or postmarked by March 19, the day of the election.

Members of the military or Illinois residents living overseas also have several options for obtaining and returning ballots, which are detailed on the State Board of Elections’ website.

Finally, there is traditional voting on Election Day. Voters are not required to present an identification to vote in Illinois unless they are changing items on their registration, or if their voter registration documents had incomplete information.

We will provide additional insight into that type of voting in a later section of this guide.

How to vote by mail in Illinois

Any registered voter in the state of Illinois can cast their ballot via the mail for any reason.

Voters must apply for mail-in ballots by submitting forms to their local election authority. Those forms can be submitted online in some areas, while in others they can be downloaded and either mailed in or submitted in person.

The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is March 14.

Ballots can be returned to your local election authority, or can be submitted via a secure drop box. A full list of drop boxes can be found on the State Board of Elections’ website.

Ballots can also be returned via the mail, but most be postmarked by March 19. Ballots must arrive at the local election authority no later than April 2 to be counted.

More information, and tips on how you can still vote if you decide to cast a ballot in person instead, can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

How to vote early in the Chicago area

Early voting is set to begin on Feb. 8 in many jurisdictions, while the city of Chicago’s supersite will officially open its doors on Feb. 15.

Full information on sites and opening dates can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

How to vote on Election Day

Voters can cast ballots on Election Day, but may need to present forms of identification in some limited circumstances.

According to officials, no identification is required if the voter is already registered at their current address and is voting in the correct precinct. A voter’s signature can be used to verify their residency at the time of voting.

A voter needs one form of identification if election judges have reason to challenge their right to vote, or if their mail-in registration did not contain their driver’s license or state ID number, or a Social Security number.

Finally, two forms of identification are required for voters seeking same-day voter registration on Election Day. Two forms are also required if a voter is changing their address, or if they are filing to change the legal name on their voter registration.

A full list of acceptable forms of identification can be found here.

When are polls open on Election Day?

Polls in Illinois are required to open at 6 a.m. on Election Day, and will close at 7 p.m.

Certain circumstances can lead to polling places remaining open for extended hours, but the most important information is that if a voter is in line when polls close, they will be allowed to cast a ballot.

How to find your polling place?

The Illinois State Board of Elections operates a website where voters can use their five-digit ZIP code to find their polling place. You can find that site here.

Can you register to vote on Election Day?

Same-day voter registration is available at specific polling places, which can be found via a tool on the State Board of Elections’ website.

In order to register to vote on the day of an election, a voter will need two forms of identification, with all acceptable forms found here.

Who’s on the ballot in Illinois

In order to vote in the 2024 primary election, voters will need to declare their choice of ballot when they arrive at their polling place.

In the 2024 primary, Illinois voters will choose their preferred nominees in all of the races, including the presidential race, which will appear at the top of ballots.

Voters will also choose their preferred presidential delegates, who will formally cast votes on behalf of their candidate during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions later this year.

Outside of the presidency, voters will also choose nominees for the November election for their respective members of Congress, with all 17 members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation facing reelection this year.

All 118 members of Illinois’ House of Representatives will be up for re-election in 2024, as will approximately one-third of the state’s 58 senators.

Some districts will also have primary votes on Supreme Court justices, with elections in the first and fourth districts to provide nominees for vacancies to those seats.

Voters will also determine nominees for appellate court, circuit courts and subcircuit courts when they cast their ballots.

Finally, some counties will also have countywide races to decide in 2024.

Sample ballots can be found on the local election authority’s website in your area.

What are the races to watch in Illinois?

The presidential election will feature two contested races on primary ballots, with President Joe Biden facing a trio of challengers and former President Donald Trump facing former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Elsewhere, multiple members of Congress will face high-profile primary challenges, including Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia, who will go up against Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez in the fourth district. Rep. Mike Bost will face a Republican challenge from former gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey in the 12^th district, while Rep. Danny Davis will face four Democratic challengers in the seventh district.

More information on the races to watch can be found on the NBC Chicago app.

How to research judges on the ballot

Judges are elected from specific districts or circuits in the state of Illinois, so the judges that will appear on your ballot will be different depending on where you live.

The Illinois Supreme Court has seven total seats, including three from the first district, which represents Cook County.

In this year’s election cycle, there will be an election in that First District, as Justice Joy Cunningham will run for election to a full 10-year term after replacing former Chief Justice Ann Burke in Dec. 2022.

There is also an election in the fourth district, as Justice Lisa Holder White will run for a full 10-year term on the bench after replacing former Justice Rita Garman.

The fourth district covers a slew of counties in western and central Illinois, including Ogle, Lee, Peoria and Sangamon counties.

There are numerous other vacancies in the Appellate Court, including four in the First District, and at least 11 vacancies in the Cook County circuit court, among others.

In the lead-up to the election, numerous organizations will release their recommendations on the qualifications of the judges, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Council of Lawyers and the Illinois State Bar Association, among others.

Those websites will be updated with information as the election draws nearer.

What should I bring to vote in person?

If you are already registered to vote at your current address, you will not need to bring a government-issued photo ID to vote, but it could be helpful if any questions arise about your registration, address or signature.

If you are registering to vote on the day of the election, or need to make changes to your registration such as a new address or a legally-changed name, you can do so, but will need two forms of ID.

Finally, voters are allowed to bring notes into the booth with information on which candidates they’ll be voting for.

Can I take a ballot selfie?

Taking photos with your ballot is prohibited by state law, as it’s a felony to mark your ballot so another person can see how you voted.

Granted, state election officials have said it’s “unlikely” anyone would be prosecuted for such a photo, but taking a picture with a sticker or your polling place is far safer.

What should I do if I run into any problems voting?

Voters who are challenged on their voting eligibility, who experience voter intimidation or have trouble at their polling place are encouraged to report such incidents.

If you run into any of the above issues, or have any questions about the voting process, more than 100 organizations across the U.S. operate an Election Protection hotline, which can be reached at:

1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683): English

1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682): Spanish/English

1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683): Asian languages/English

1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287): Arabic/English

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the organizations that helps operate the hotline during election season.

Residents can also text MYVOTE to 866-687-8683 to get help from trained volunteers. Assistance is also available on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @866ourvote, and live-chatting can be accessed on the group’s website.

How to get live Illinois election results

Election Day coverage will be airing live on NBC Chicago throughout the evening and at 10 p.m. Coverage of up-to-the-minute race results can also be found on NBCChicago.com and on the NBC Chicago app, where you can turn on notifications for all the latest race results.

According to CBOE officials, Kina Collins and Nikhil Bhatia both acquired enough signatures to remain on the ballot in the race, with objections overruled in each of their cases.

Both candidates are seeking to unseat incumbent Rep. Danny K. Davis, who has served in Congress since 1996.

Davis has received high ratings from the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood and the National Education Association, among others, and has received endorsements from a slew of high-profile politicians, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others.

Bhatia is one of four candidates seeking to defeat Davis in the Democratic primary. Bhatia, a teacher and principal, is a proponent of early-childcare funding and universal PreK at the federal level, as well as increased funding for climate change initiatives. Bhatia’s platform also includes passage of the John Lewis Voting Act and codifying abortion rights with new federal laws.

Collins, who lost by just under 5,000 votes to Davis in the 2022 primary, will take another shot at the seat in Congress. An advocate against gun violence, Collins promises to pursue progressive legislation in Washington, including Medicare for All and gun control legislation, among others.

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is also in the race, citing her record of dismantling systemic racism in financial institutions, helping small businesses, and directing investments away from fossil fuel and gun industry interests and toward companies in the green energy space, among other platform stances.

Policy advocate Kouri Marshall, who worked for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is also in the race, focused on increasing the availability of affordable homes, along with ensuring access to reproductive healthcare and eliminating billions of dollars in student loan debt. His platform also includes expanding the child tax credit and investing in after-school programs for young Americans.

Chad Koppie is running unopposed in the Republican primary during this election cycle. He had previously run for U.S. Senate on several occasions, and will run in the seventh district this year, focusing on eliminating the national debt, removing the federal government from the nation’s educational system, and instituting immigration reform that includes a prohibition on “sanctuary cities,” among other platform planks.

For Democrats, President Joe Biden is the frontrunner in the election, and he will lead a field of four total candidates in Illinois this spring. On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump is believed to be the favorite as he tries to secure a rematch of the 2020 race and to attempt to ultimately become the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland.

Here is a full listing of candidates on the ballot in the presidential primaries.

Democrats:

In all, there are four Democratic candidates on the ballot for the primary in Illinois, with five Republican candidates on the ballot in the GOP race.

Here is a breakdown of each of the candidates, as well as links to their official campaign pages.

President Joe Biden will seek a second term in office, and while the incumbent hasn’t posted a list of legislative priorities on his website, earlier reporting has shed light on what he will seek to achieve if he’s reelected.

According to The Associated Press, Biden’s campaign will focus on preserving voting rights, preserving access to abortion, and pursuing programs that will aim to provide economic relief to the nation’s middle class.

Joining Biden on the Democratic ballot are three challengers, including entrepreneur Frankie Lozada. According to his campaign website, Lozada will leverage experience working with asylum-seekers at the U.S. border to inform a strategy of comprehensive immigration reform. He will also aim to expand opportunities for minority business owners and homeowners, among other priorities.

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips is also running for president, citing his ability to work in a bipartisan fashion with both Democrats and Republicans while in Congress. His focuses would be improving access to housing, pursuing a Medicare for All healthcare plan, and to provide tuition-free college and vocational training.

Author Marianne Williamson, who launched an unsuccessful bid for president in 2020, is also running for office again in this election. Her campaign website includes extensive plans for combating climate change, spearheading new protections for children in the United States, and launching a massive plan to overhaul the healthcare system in the United States, focusing on root causes of health issues while also providing treatment options for all Americans.

Republicans

Highlighting the list of Republican contenders is former President Donald Trump, who won the Iowa caucus and is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the race.

Trump has indicated he would position thousands of federal troops along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the tide of crossings, while also reimposing a travel ban from Muslim-majority countries and seek ways to end birthright citizenship, according to the Associated Press.

Trump would also seek to impose tariffs on foreign-produced goods, ramp up drilling on public land and to terminate the Department of Education, among other priorities.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is one of the contenders seeking to upset Trump in the primary, focusing on addressing the U.S. relationship with China and working to strengthen the country’s economic footing while also pursuing other conservative aims, according to his website.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley will focus on improving operating conditions for the U.S. military, working to combat inflation and to encourage parental control and choice in the education system, among other priorities.

Ryan Binkley, CEO of Generational Group in Texas, is also on the ballot in Illinois, with his website touting a plan to balance the federal budget within the next seven years. His website also includes plan to increase competition in the healthcare sphere, to expand the use of nuclear energy to help lessen dependence on oil and natural gas, and to secure the border and to expedite immigration proceedings to help reduce backlogs currently plaguing the system.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s name will appear on the ballot, but he dropped out of the race shortly before the Iowa caucus.

The Illinois presidential primary will take place on March 19, 2024. Democrats will have roughly 147 pledged delegates up for grabs in the state, along with more than two dozen “super-delegates,” with proportional assignment of delegates based on the results.

Delegates in Illinois will be winner-take-all for Republicans, with an estimated 64 delegates.

Democrats will be looking to not only hold the White House, but also to avoid losing further ground in the House of Representatives during this election cycle, and several vulnerable Illinois Democrats are facing touch primary challenges this March.

So who is on the ballot in these key races? Here are the names that you could see this March.  

President

Democrats –

President Joe Biden is considered the favorite to secure nomination for a reelection bid, but three other Democratic candidates will also be on the ballot in Illinois.

Frankie Lozada, an entrepreneur, says on his campaign website that he’s planning to leverage his experience working with families seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border to inform comprehensive immigration reform, and will focus on increasing opportunities for minority business owners and homeowners.

Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips is also running for president, citing his ability to work in a bipartisan fashion with both Democrats and Republicans while in Congress. His focuses would be improving access to housing, pursuing a Medicare for All healthcare plan, and to provide tuition-free college and vocational training.

Author Marianne Williamson, who launched an unsuccessful bid for president in 2020, is also running for office again in this election. Her campaign website includes extensive plans for combating climate change, spearheading new protections for children in the United States, and launching a massive plan to overhaul the healthcare system in the United States, focusing on root causes of health issues while also providing treatment options for all Americans.

Republicans –

There will be a total of five candidates on the Republican ballot for president in Illinois, including former President Donald Trump, who cruised to victory in the recent Iowa caucus.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are also on the ballot in Illinois for the March election. DeSantis’ campaign has focused on strengthening America’s economic position amid stiff competition from China, and to focus on improving recruitment and deployment efforts for the United States’ military.

Haley’s campaign has focused on drawing distinctions to her approach from Trump, who nominated her to the position of UN Ambassador at 2016. Haley says she will focus on improving conditions for the U.S. military, tackling inflation and to encourage parental control and choice in the education system.

Ryan Binkley, CEO of Generational Group in Texas, is also on the ballot in Illinois, with his website touting a plan to balance the federal budget within the next seven years. His website also includes plan to increase competition in the healthcare sphere, to expand the use of nuclear energy to help lessen dependence on oil and natural gas, and to secure the border and to expedite immigration proceedings to help reduce backlogs currently plaguing the system.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s name will appear on the ballot, but he dropped out of the race shortly before the Iowa caucus.

4^th Congressional District

Democrats –

Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia is running for a fourth term in Congress from the 4^th district, which covers portions of the West and Northwest Sides of Chicago, as well as suburbs like Brookfield, Burbank and parts of Elmhurst.

Garcia’s campaign website lists his priorities in office as pursuing Medicare for All, pushing for comprehensive immigration reform that includes permanent protections for DACA recipients and other paths to citizenship, and the passage of a Green New Deal to combat climate change.

Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez represents the city’s 15^th Ward, which includes parts of West Englewood, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards. A fierce critic of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in his role on the City Council, Lopez says his priorities will be to “seek common ground” and to raise the minimum wage if elected to Congress, according to an interview with Block Club Chicago.

He also wants to find solutions to the ongoing immigration crisis in the U.S., and to encourage fiscal responsibility in Washington.

Republicans –

There are no Republicans currently on the ballot in Illinois for this race.

7^th Congressional District

Democrats –

Incumbent Rep. Danny K. Davis was first-elected to Congress in 1996, and he is once again running for reelection in what will be a hotly-contested race.

Davis has received high ratings from the AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood and the National Education Association, among others, and has received endorsements from a slew of high-profile politicians, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others.

Nikhil Bhatia is one of four candidates seeking to knock off Davis in the Democratic primary. Bhatia, a teacher and principal, is a proponent of early-childcare funding and universal PreK at the federal level, as well as increased funding for climate change initiatives. Bhatia’s platform also includes passage of the John Lewis Voting Act and codifying abortion rights with new federal laws.

Kina Collins, who lost by just under 5,000 votes to Davis in the 2022 primary, will take another shot at the seat in Congress. An advocate against gun violence, Collins promises to pursue progressive legislation in Washington, including Medicare for All and gun control legislation, among others.

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is also in the race, citing her record of dismantling systemic racism in financial institutions, helping small businesses, and directing investments away from fossil fuel and gun industry interests and toward companies in the green energy space, among other platform stances.

Policy advocate Kouri Marshall, who worked for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, is also in the race, focused on increasing the availability of affordable homes, along with ensuring access to reproductive healthcare and eliminating billions of dollars in student loan debt. His platform also includes expanding the child tax credit and investing in after-school programs for young Americans.

Republicans –

Chad Koppie is running unopposed in the Republican primary during this election cycle. He had previously run for U.S. Senate on several occasions, and will run in the seventh district this year, focusing on eliminating the national debt, removing the federal government from the nation’s educational system, and instituting immigration reform that includes a prohibition on “sanctuary cities,” among other platform planks.

12^th Congressional District

Democrats –

Two candidates will vie for the Democratic nomination in this large Congressional district, which encompasses large swaths of southern and eastern Illinois.

Preston Gabriel Nelson is running as a Democrat in the race, pursuing a platform that includes term limits for members of Congress, a public option for healthcare, a simplification of the tax code, and a complete overhaul of the immigration system.

Brian Roberts, a Carbondale-based attorney, is also running for the position. He does not have a campaign website, but does have an active Facebook page for his campaign.

Republicans –

Incumbent Rep. Mike Bost will face a primary challenge in the 2024 election. Bost earned 75% of the vote in the last general election, and says he will continue to pursue aggressive tax reform and legislation to encourage energy independence if reelected. He has also sponsored legislation to give additional tax credits to farmers and to encourage investment in rural broadband, according to his campaign website.

Former State Sen. Darren Bailey, who lost his bid for governor against Gov. Pritzker in 2022, will challenge Bost for the 12^th district seat. Bailey’s website indicates he will pursue legislation to expand gun rights in Congress, along with further restrictions on abortion access and bills to achieve energy independence.

14^th Congressional District

Democrats –

Incumbent Rep. Lauren Underwood will run unopposed on the Democratic ticket as she seeks a four term in office representing the district, which includes Crystal Lake, Oswego and Yorkville.

Underwood has been a contributor to several healthcare laws, including the Healthcare Affordability Act. She has also pushed for increased access to reproductive healthcare in Illinois, and for new laws to prevent gun violence in the United States.

Republicans –

Two Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination in the 14^th district, including Charlie Kim, a mediator and business executive.

Kim’s platform includes no-cost healthcare for Americans and supporting DACA recipients in pursuing immigration reform. Kim also will pursue legislation to reduce recidivism in the criminal justice system, and to pursue “realistic improvements in gun safety” while protecting Second Amendment rights.

James Marter, who has run against former Sen. Mark Kirk and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, will oppose Kim in the March primary. A business owner and entrepreneur, Marter’s platform includes reductions in spending to balance the federal budget and to bolster security at the U.S.-Mexico border, along with eliminating federal influence on the education system.

Supreme Court Justice – 1^st District

Democrats –

Voters in the first district will select a justice for a full 10-year term, with incumbent Justice Joy Cunningham running for reelection to her seat. Cunningham replaced former Chief Justice Ann Burke in 2022. She earned her law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago, and previously served as a judicial clerk and a general counsel for Northwestern Memorial System before being elected as a Cook County Circuit Court judge.

Judge Jesse Reyes, who represents Illinois’ 1^st district appellate court, will oppose Cunningham in the Democratic primary. Reyes also graduated from John Marshall Law School, and was previously employed by the Chicago Board of Education’s law department. He also served as a senior supervising attorney with the Corporation Counsel’s Office in Chicago, and has been rated as “highly qualified” by the Illinois State Bar Association, among other groups.

Republicans –

There are no Republicans on the primary ballot for this race.

The primary election will be held March 19 in Illinois, but voters will have the ability to cast their votes in early February in nearly every county in the Chicago area.

Curious about when, and where, you can cast your ballot early this election season? Here is a county-by-county breakdown of early voting dates and locations.

City of Chicago

Early voting begins at the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite, located at 191 North Clark, on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Early voting in all 50 wards of Chicago will open on March 4, according to officials.  

Any voter in the city of Chicago can vote at the supersite, or at any of the ward-based early voting sites prior to Election Day, according to city officials.

A list of those sites, and more information on early voting procedures, can be found on the Board of Elections’ website.

Cook County:

For residents in suburban Cook County, early voting will begin on Feb. 21 at the board’s downtown Chicago location at 69 West Washington Pedway.

Early voting at all other sites in the county will begin on March 4 and run through March 18.

A full list of sites can be found on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website.

DeKalb County:

Early voting will begin on Feb. 8 according to officials, but a list of sites has not yet been finalized.

You can find more information on the DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder’s website.

DuPage County:

Early voting will begin at five locations across DuPage County on Feb. 8, including the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. The Addison Township Office, the Naperville Municipal Center, the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale and the Westmont Public Library will all host early voting sites.

Additional locations will open on March 4. A full list of early voting sites has not yet been released, but information on early voting can be found on the DuPage County website.

Officials also urge residents to check a new precinct map that was passed by the County Board in June 2023, with many residents having new precinct numbers for the coming election.

Grundy County:

Early voting is set to begin at the Grundy County Courthouse’s lobby in Morris on Feb. 8, and will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information on voting can be found on the Grundy County Election Department’s website.

Kane County:

Early voting will begin at the Kane County Elections Main Office in Geneva and the Aurora Satellite Location will begin on Feb. 8.

More sites will open around the county on March 4, with the final list currently in the works and scheduled to be released by early February, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kane County Clerk’s Office website.

Kankakee County:

Early voting information is not yet available.

Kendall County:

Early voting begins at the Kendall County Clerk’s Office, located in Yorkville, on Feb. 8. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday.

Early voting will be available at the Oswego Village Hall beginning on March 4, according to officials.

More information can be found on the Kendall County Clerk and Recorder’s office website.

Lake County:

Early voting will begin at the Lake County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan on Feb. 8, and will be available on weekdays.

Early voting will expand on March 4, and a full list of sites can be found here.

For more information on early voting in Lake County, visit the county clerk’s office website.

LaSalle County:

Early voting begins at the LaSalle County Clerk’s Office, located in Ottawa, on Feb. 8, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

McHenry County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the county clerk’s office in Woodstock, and will expand on March 4 to other locations.

More information on early voting can be found on the County Clerk’s website.  

Will County:

Early voting begins Feb. 8 at the Will County Clerk’s Office in Joliet, and will expand to a slew of different sites on March 4.

A full list of early voting sites, and information for voting hours at each location, can be found on the Will County Clerk’s office website.