Around 5:30 a.m., Hayet Rida, a 35-year-old who lives in the Loop and became a U.S. citizen last week, was waiting in a line with about two dozen other voters outside of the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners’ Super Site Tuesday.
“I’ve lived here for 17 years, and I feel like all the laws and stuff applied to me, but I’ve never had a say in anything, so to me, (voting) was a big deal,” Rida said near the corner of North Clark Street and West Lake Street.
About half an hour later, thanks to the help of about 8,000 election judges and other poll workers, nearly a thousand voting locations opened across the city. Chicago residents can vote at their assigned precinct polling place or at any of the 51 vote centers across the city. All locations will close at 7 p.m.
Pre-Election Day weekend and the eve of the election saw massive lines in parts of Chicago and the suburbs. Marisel Hernandez, chair of the election board, encouraged people to vote during the middle of the day, when there is not much wait time or no wait time at all. Chicago residents can find out more about the election on Chicago Board of Election Commissioners’ website.
“This is the big presidential election where we routinely see over 1 million registered voters cast their ballots,” Hernandez said. “Many voters have waited until this day to vote, so there may be some lines, and we urge everyone to have patience and show some kindness.”
Max Bever, public information director at the election board, said the board hoped that the rain and concerns about long lines won’t discourage people from voting.
Aidan Graham, 24, of Lakeview, was also waiting in line outside the Super Site before it opened. He said he tried to vote yesterday but didn’t want to wait in a two-hour long line. Graham wasn’t bothered by Tuesday’s rain because he brought an umbrella to help him perform his civic duty.
“I think trying to get your voice heard is probably a good thing,” Graham said.
Hernandez said more than 300,000 Chicagoans voted early, including about 36,000 on Monday. The city had more than 265,000 vote by mail applications and about half of those have been returned, Hernandez said.
Traditionally, about 70% of the city’s registered voters participate in presidential elections, she added.
“That’s been true for the last six presidential elections, and we expect that, and maybe more, today,” Hernandez said.
Rida, the new U.S. citizen, said she has been eagerly waiting for Election Day and wanted to be the first in line. But even arriving a half an hour before polls opened, she was about 10th.
Rida, who is from Ghana, said the two issues on her mind were women’s rights and immigration.
“I think immigration will always be big because that applies to me, and I have friends and family who are also being affected by immigration laws,” Rida said.
