Election officials warn Chicagoans of possible voting headaches on June 28

CHICAGO - Just three weeks before Election Day, the Chicago Board of Elections says it will not provide normal polling places for more than 100,000 voters.

They'll have to vote by mail, or travel the extra distance to a regional polling place.

It has happened before that the city failed to provide a polling place for a handful of precincts, but never for 73 precincts with up to 120,000 registered voters. Nor is there a good explanation of the disproportionate racial impact.

"On the North Side, we really ran into many issues when it came to accessibility and increased security requirements, as well as that summer date that did not allow for availability at a lot of these traditional places," said Max Bever, spokesman for Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

It's true the June 28 primary is about three months later than usual, but the board did not explain why that left about 50 precincts in mostly white wards without a polling place, versus eight in Black wards and 15 in mostly Hispanic wards.

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Voters in all those precincts can vote early or by mail. But, per Circuit Court Judge Nichole Patton's order -- requested by the board -- if they cast their ballot on Election Day, they'll have to take the extra time to travel to one of the early voting sites that will now remain open through June 28.

"We are reaching out to all of these voters that are affected by this," Bever said.

The election board's failure to provide precinct polling places for more than 100,000 registered voters could depress turnout, something candidates in close contests are sure to look at as the ballots are counted.

Anyone with questions can contact CBOE@ChicagoElections.gov or call 312-269-7900.