Chicago Voters Face Three-Hour Waits as Turnout Spikes for Midterms

Illinois voters will cast ballots Tuesday in a midterm cycle that includes a new U.S. Senate seat and five congressional districts where incumbents are not seeking reelection. The state faces at least six open seats, a factor political experts say has reduced traditional campaigning in several races. Despite the lack of mailers and candidate visits in some districts, early voting lines grew long on Monday.

At an early voting location off Belmont in the Lakeview neighborhood, the queue extended along the block and wrapped around a nearby parking lot. Some voters waited up to three hours to reach the front of the line. Many brought books, knitting projects, and personal conversations to pass the time.

Aaron Kornick, a regular at the site for 13 years, took the day off work to manage the wait. He arrived with a friend to tackle the line together. "I had planned for it to be a long line," Kornick said. "I do know it can get a little hectic. So I made sure to take the day off.. and then came with my friend so we can just tackle the line together."

Mary Lou Schmidt returned to the site after an earlier attempt failed due to time constraints. "I came earlier in the week, but I ran out of time, so I left, and so I came back today," she said. Election judges at the site cited a shortage of resources for the delay. Only seven voting booths are available, and the ballot is longer this year, which increases the time required to complete the vote.

Turnout is already running higher than in the 2022 cycle. Cook County officials report that 30% more voters have participated compared to four years ago. Officials in McHenry and Kane counties also reported increased participation. David Doherty, a politics professor at Loyola University Chicago, said the long lines reflect voter enthusiasm. He noted that campaigns encourage early voting to secure votes before election day uncertainties, such as weather or scheduling conflicts, arise.

Voters cited specific local issues as drivers for their participation. Aya Lewis voted for school board candidates who prioritize mental health resources. The Chicago school board races are a focus this cycle because all seats are up for election, rather than some being appointed by the mayor. Lewis looked for candidates who balance financial responsibility with experience working with children. Doherty said he will watch national trends closely on Tuesday, given the limited action in Illinois state politics.