March 28, 2024
Election | Kane County Chronicle


Election

Nearly 117,000 votes already cast in Kane County as Early Voting continues through Monday

Clerk Cunningham gives update on 'historic' number of early votes

KANE COUNTY – With one week until the General Election, 116,598 Kane County voters have already cast their ballot as of Sunday night, according to a news release from Kane County Clerk John A. Cunningham's office.

“More than 116,000 voters have already participated in this election and we still have eight more days of Early Voting and next Tuesday’s traditional Election Day to go," Cunningham stated in the release. "The large number of votes already cast by Kane County voters is truly historic. More than four times the amount of Vote by Mail ballots have been returned so far than in any other election. We are on pace to set records for the highest number of Early Votes cast and total number of votes cast in a general election.  In fact, when compared to local consolidated elections, the number of votes cast so far is more than double the highest number recorded in an April consolidated election.”

Of the 116,598 votes cast so far, 53,762 votes have already been cast through in-person Early Voting, compared to 72,537 early votes in the entire 2016 General Election, and there are seven more days of Early Voting before Election Day.

The release states that 62,836 Vote by Mail ballots have been returned to the Clerk’s Office, compared to 9,424 ballots returned in the entire 2016 presidential election. The previous record for VBM ballots returned was 14,501 in November 2018.

“We encourage all registered voters to vote however they feel most comfortable," Cunningham stated. "If you plan to vote in person, please be aware that we have implemented many health and sanitation protocols to protect our voters and election workers.  These additional cleaning measures and social distancing may add a few extra minutes to the voting process, and we thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Early Voting continues through Monday, Nov. 2 at many locations around Kane County. Seven permanent Early Voting sites in Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, Elgin and Carpentersville are open 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  A list of all Early Voting sites is available at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Early-Voting.aspx. Kane County voters can vote early at any Early Voting center in Kane County.

Election Day polling sites are available at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Election-Day-Voting.aspx. Voters can find their polling location and a personalized sample ballot at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Voter-Search.aspx.

Voters can request a Vote by Mail ballot until Oct. 29, although voters are encouraged not to wait until then to ensure the ballot is received on time.  Applications can be completed online at kanecountyclerk.org/Elections/Pages/Vote-by-Mail.aspx. Voters can sign up for Ballot Trax to track their ballot at votekane.ballottrax.net/voter. Completed ballots must be postmarked on or before Nov. 3 in order to be counted.