CHICAGO (WLS) – Early voting for the 2024 presidential election began in Chicago on Thursday morning.

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Voters can cast their ballot at the Downtown Supersite or at the Chicago Board of Elections offices.

Chicago officials said they expect 50% of voters in the city to cast their ballots early.

The supersite is at 191 N. Clark St. The Chicago Board of Elections offices are at 69 W. Washington St. on the sixth floor.

Both early voting sites will be open through Sunday, October 27th.

On weekdays they are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturdays the locations are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Starting October 28th, locations will extend their weekday hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through November 4th.

On Election Day, November 5, the supersite will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m

Early voting in all 50 Chicago counties begins at 9 a.m. Monday, October 21st

Anyone in Illinois can register to vote in person or online.

To view all locations and times, click here.

People lined up waiting for the doors to open Thursday morning. And throughout the day, a steady stream of voters cast their ballots.

“I was really excited about this choice. I see it as a very, very stark contrast between two very different visions of America,” said voter Mohamed Ismail.

Ismail was first in line at the Loop Supersite on Thursday. He said he supports Kamala Harris.

“It represents a vision of America that I think could either go back or forward. And I don’t want to go back,” Ismail said.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Pullapilly said she supports Donald Trump. She said she was unhappy with how the last four years have turned out for the Biden-Harris administration.

“It is no longer safe to travel across America,” Pullapilly said. “When I look back at 2016, I felt like Donald Trump did a really good job taking care of the people of this country. The economy was great; people were very, very happy.”

One woman said she cast her first presidential vote for Franklin D. Roosevelt and would not sit out this election.

Mary Payne, who is 104, needed her walker to cast her vote Thursday. What she didn't need was additional motivation. She wants others to value voting as much as she does.

“They don’t take it too seriously; it's just so messed up. We can choose; Black people can vote, and many of them don't. They don’t teach their children to be good citizens,” Payne said.

22-year-old Michael Curran is running in his first presidential election. He came Thursday to avoid the long lines he endured in the primary.

“So this time I want to make sure my voice counts and not let it stop me from waiting outside or anything like that. So early voting really makes it accessible to voters like me,” Curran said.

Voter Eduardo Miller said he always voted.

“So going out on the first day became a kind of ritual for me. And when I heard this was open today, I thought I'd stop by on my lunch break. So, she made it easy for me,” Miller said.

A woman participated in early voting for the first time.

“For the first time, I have the opportunity to make an impact in this election that I believe will be transformative,” said Marguerite Mariama.

Chicago Board of Elections Chairwoman Marisel Hernandez said she was encouraged by the increase in early voters she saw Thursday morning.

“Given the level of interest in this election, we expect this to continue and that there will be an increase in early voting and absentee voting,” she said.

The Chairperson added that there was an increase in new registrations among people aged 18 to 35, particularly young women.

The electoral authorities are expecting a near record voter turnout.

Thursday's voter turnout in Chicago appeared to be higher than in a normal presidential election. Officials expect voter turnout this year to be over 70 percent.

Several suburbs began early voting last week. Locations have opened in DuPage, Kane, Will and McHenry counties and Lake County, Illinois.

Voter turnout in DuPage County was so high when early voting began there on Sept. 26 that it broke first-day records, and interest remains high.

“It was very strong all week. Today we will soon be over 9,000,” said Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County Clerk.

Election officials are encouraging people to make a plan so they don't miss out.

There was also a coordinated effort by Rainbow PUSH, sororities, unions and other groups to get people to the polls on Thursday.

A caravan calling for the vote came to the downtown supersite Thursday afternoon.

“Voting is imperative. It's not just a right. It's a right. It's a voice. Your vote must count and you must participate in the vote. Don’t just stop with the president and vice president,” said Rev. Janette Wilson. with Rainbow PUSH.

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