Chicagoans begin casting ballots for November's election

THE LOOP (WBBM Newsradio) -- At an old storefront on the northeast corner of Adams and State, workers labored before sunrise Thursday morning to turn the closed CVS drug store into a cornerstone of American democracy.

"Let me lift that one up and make sure it's empty" said one worker as clerks from the Chicago Board of Elections assembled equipment inside one of two "super-sites" in the Loop where Chicagoans can cast ballots ahead of the November 3 midterm election.

Booths and touch-screen voting machines lined aisles inside the super-site, waiting for voters to begin selecting their picks for governor, U.S. Senator, Congress and a host of local races, including Chicago Board of Education.

At 9:00 a.m, a worker unlocked the revolving door at the front corner of the building, and the first voter entered: "Where do I start?"

That voter was Tommy Hanson, businessman and perennial Republican candidate for Congress. 2026 represents the fifth time he's run against Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley (5th District), and his first run in the North side district came against Rahm Emanuel in 2008. Hanson has also been the first person through the door at the Board of Elections' super-site for years.

"I want to get it out of the way. I'm busy!" Hanson told WBBM Newsradio as he waited outside the building under an overhang as a light rain fell on the Loop. "If you don't vote, you can't complain."

When a reporter suggested that being the first in line on the first day of "early voting" was also a good way to get media exposure for his campaign, Hanson demurred. "Well, not really. I mean, publicity helps to get elected."

Board of Elections chair Marisol Hernandez said voters can cast ballots at the supersite and at the Board offices, 69 W. Washington St., seven days a week until Election Day. Early voting will expand to all 50 of the city's wards on October 19.

"We want voters to make a plan to vote," Hernandez told reporters after the super-site opened. "We urge Chicago voters to take advantage of our options," including mail-in ballots and day-of voting.