Chicagoans face hours in line on last day of early voting

CHICAGO - It was a tedious game of waiting on the last day of early voting in Chicago.

People waited in line at Union Park's fieldhouse for up to three hours. Election officials said the voting process itself took just 10 to 15 minutes once voters got inside.

Among those waiting was Igho Oraka, who came with her 9-year-old daughter, Queen.

"There are so many judges, two pages worth, and referendums that I’m not sure matter," Oraka said.

Officials expect high turnout this election, predicting over 70% of Chicago’s voters will participate, with a national spotlight on the presidential race.

Shade Ogunsanya, another voter, expressed concern over student loans.

"You go to college and feel like you're gonna make all this money and you still got all those loans," she said.

Just 30 minutes before early voting was set to end, around 125 people still waited outside the fieldhouse.

Citywide, more than 300,000 early votes and 160,000 mail-in ballots had been cast by Sunday night.

"I think the outcome of this election will have a real big impact on where our country goes. It’s important to vote," said Krista Wolf, who turned in her mail-in ballot and left quickly.

The Chicago Board of Elections set up an early voting site in each of the city’s 50 wards, plus their office at 69 West Washington and the Super Site at Clark and Lake Streets. The Loop locations have posted the highest numbers. They have the largest number of voting machines.

Election officials said voters under age 25 have the lowest turnout numbers.

At the University of Illinois Chicago campus, the 34th Ward early voting site is right inside the student center. Students said their peers tend to put things off until the last minute but several said they are making plans with friends to vote.

The process can be a special experience.

Emily Pinaglia is 18 years old and voted for the first time with her mother.

"It was good. Then we took a photo afterwards to send to my grandparents," Pinaglia said.

Andrew Green said this is a very important election.

"We are living in some of the most absurd, strange times but I think that … if we want to change things, we can," Green said.

Board of Elections officials said about half of the city’s voters still prefer to vote on Election Day, if they can.

Election Day voting starts at 6 a.m. Voters who are in line by 7 p.m. will get their chance to vote, even if the line is long.