Cook County voters can cast ballots at dozens of locations across suburban Cook County starting Monday, Oct. 19, two weeks before Election Day.

The Cook County Clerk's office is expanding early voting from six initial sites to 56 suburban locations. The sites will stay open through Monday, Nov. 2, the day before the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election.

Hours at nearby North Shore sites, including Northbrook Village Hall and Glenview Village Hall, run Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to Patch.

Suburban Cook County residents can vote at any of the 56 sites. A Wilmette resident could cast a ballot at Northbrook Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane, or Glenview Village Hall, 2500 E. Lake Ave., or any other suburban location on the list.

Village halls serving as early voting sites will not be polling places on Election Day. Voters who wait until Nov. 3 should check their assigned precinct at the Cook County Clerk's elections website.

What's on the ballot

North Shore voters in the 9th Congressional District will choose between Democrat Daniel Biss, the former Evanston mayor and former state senator, and Republican John Elleson, a pastor at Lakewood Chapel in Arlington Heights.

Statewide, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker faces former state Sen. Darren Bailey, a Republican, in a rematch of their 2022 contest, with independent Collin Corbett also on the ballot. Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton faces Republican Don Tracy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dick Durbin.

Cook County voters will also weigh in on a nonbinding advisory question asking whether Illinois should impose an additional 3 percent income tax on income exceeding $1 million. Half the revenue would go to property tax relief and half to public education. Approval would not enact the tax.

Northfield Township residents face three local referendum questions: a binding vote on whether to abolish the separate Northfield Township Road District and transfer its duties to the township, plus advisory questions on food pantry meals and waste services in unincorporated areas.

Mail voting and registration

Voters who prefer to vote by mail must apply by Thursday, Oct. 29. Completed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days.

The Cook County Clerk's office is warning voters about a change in U.S. Postal Service processing rules that took effect Jan. 1. Mail is now postmarked the day it is processed at the post office, which can be several days after it is dropped off, according to Northbrook's election information page. Ballots mailed close to Election Day could receive a late postmark and be rejected. The clerk's office recommends bringing ballots directly to a post office and requesting a hand-stamped postmark, or using one of 55 secure drop boxes across suburban Cook County.

The deadline for online voter registration closed Sunday, Oct. 18. Grace-period registration continues through Election Day, but voters must bring two forms of identification, including one showing their current address, and vote at the time they register.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office is monitoring early voting statewide. Voters in northern Illinois who encounter problems can call 866-536-3496 through Nov. 17, according to Shaw Local.

Election Day polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.