On Tuesday night, the Chicago area will be deep in midterm election results, with the governor’s race, the U.S. Senate and, of course, the balance of power in Congress all up for grabs.
But on Monday, some voters discovered early voting wasn’t so quick, with hourslong waits reported at some locations. “On Point Politics” estimates 1.6 million ballots have been cast in Illinois by early voters.
At Truman College in Chicago, voters were told the wait could be as long as three hours.
“Coming from Florida, I’ve never seen a turnout like this, so it’s super neat,” one voter, Haleigh Carter, said.
Even at the tail end, Carter and Greg Hardy said they felt empowered.
“It’s 100% worth it, and this is early voting, so that goes on top of it as well,” he said.
For these first-time Illinois voters, Greg said their experience “just goes to show how important [voting] is.”
The midterm ballot includes the race for governor, with Democratic incumbent JB Pritzker facing Republican challenger Darren Bailey in a rematch from 2022.
At the Chicago Board of Elections downtown Supersite, where lines appeared to be moving faster, voters were also casting ballots in the U.S. Senate race.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy are vying for the seat long held by Sen. Dick Durbin.
All 17 of Illinois’ congressional seats are also up for grabs.
‘Trying to protect our democracy that’s on the ropes right now,” one voter, Joe, said.
“I want to see the flip, but I also want to see action behind the flip,” Marcellus, another voter, stated.
And the balance of power is at stake.
Whether Democrats can regain control on Capitol Hill will be decided as election results come in Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, Election Day, the site administrator at Truman College expects people to be waiting outside before the location opens up again at 6 a.m.
from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/r6wRfxp
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