Early Voting Begins Today In Chicago Runoffs

Just weeks after electing a new mayor, some Chicagoans will return to the polls Monday to decide runoff races for aldermen in 14 wards.

The majority of aldermanic races were won outright, with one candidate picking up more than 50 percent of the vote in his or her ward. But in 14 wards, no candidate was able to cross the 50 percent mark, leading to a runoff between the two most popular candidates. The general election in these races is April 5, but early voting starts Monday.

"The February election was one of the smoothest in Chicago Election Board history,"
Chicago Election Board Chairman Langdon D. Neal said in a statement. "Now we are working to meet or exceed those high standards for these aldermanic run-off elections on April 5."

Aldermanic run-offs are being conducted in Wards 6, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 36, 38, 41, 43, 45, 46 and 50, according to the Board of Elections.

Military and overseas voters in the runoff wards began receiving emailed and mailed ballots last week as well as grace-period voting for those registering for the first time. Voters can request an absentee ballot through March 31.

Voters can check their registration, find their polling places, review sample ballots here or by calling (312) 269-7900.

The 50-member City Council and mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel will be sworn in on May 16.