Chicagoans wanting to cast their ballots lined up for the last day of early voting in the Illinois 2026 midterm election Monday.
Tuesday is Election Day. As of Sunday, more than 280,000 ballots have already been cast in Chicago; that's a little less than 20% of registered voters.
As of Sunday evening, nearly 180,000 people had voted early in person, and more than 100,000 mail-in ballots had been returned.
Early voting locations in Chicago, including the downtown supersite and early voting locations in all 50 Chicago wards, are open until 7 p.m.
Candidates on Monday were set to make their final stops as voters prepared to choose the next Illinois governor and a new U.S. Senator from Illinois, among other offices.
As voters prepared to make their final decisions if they had not done so already, the candidates for governor were set to spend the day Monday trying to win them over.
In the governor's race, Republican Darren Bailey is once again challenging Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. The latter is seeking a third term, while Bailey is trying to unseat the man who defeated him four years ago.
Bailey was set to make his final pitch at Daley Plaza at 10 a.m. Monday.
Pritzker had five campaign stops scheduled across the state on Monday, starting in downstate Collinsville in the morning and ending in Rockford in the evening.
This election also means a change in the congressional delegation from Illinois. Five members of Congress — Democratic U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, Jesús "Chuy" García, Danny Davis, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Jan Schakowsky — are all leaving, as is U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).
Republican Don Tracy and Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are vying for the seat that Durbin will have held for 30 years when he retires at the end of his current term early next year. Independent Whitfield Harrington is also running.
Also for the first time, Chicago voters will choose the president of the Chicago Board of Education. Jessica Biggs, Victor Henderson, and Hilario Dominguez are vying for the seat.
Each candidate has faced controversy, and all have spoken about their pasts with CBS News Chicago.
The winner will lead the board as it moves to a fully elected body next year.
Early voting hours vary by location, but at the downtown supersite, 137 S. State St., it is open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
On Election Day, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. for the entire state of Illinois.
For more information about who is on your ballot, where you can vote early and on Election Day, and information on voter registration, visit our Illinois election guide.
