Vote Early, But Not Often

By Amy Hart in News on Feb 1, 2006 2:26PM

Election Day as we know it is about to end. Illinois voters will now be able to cast ballots well before Election Day without the previous restrictions presented by absentee ballots.

Illinois is jumping on the bandwagon of states that allow early voting in hopes that doing so will help increase voter turnout. Although it will be nice to avoid the lines come Election Day, it also means more work for election workers and poll watchers, as well as difficulties for campaigns trying to determine where they stand and where to spend their resources.

Chicagoist has always been the kind of dork who looks forward to getting up early on Election Day, patiently waiting in line to have our say in government, and proudly wearing our “I Voted!” sticker to work, but we might take advantage of the new system. Still, we feel a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. Will not having a single established Election Day devalue the importance of voting in our society? And more importantly, do we still get a sticker if we vote early?

If you haven’t registered to vote yet, what are you waiting for? You still have until February 21 to register to be eligible to vote in the March 21 primary, and early voting begins February 27. Chicago will have twenty sites for early voting scattered throughout the city. And for those of you who think the primary elections don’t matter, we have two words for you… Paul Vallas.