It’s Election Day, Chicago. WTTW News has you covered with our Voter Guide and all the stories to get you caught up on local races.  

Go Beyond the Story With the WTTW News Election Day Live Blog

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo)

This morning, WTTW News launched our Election Day live blog. We'll update it throughout the day links to all of our election stories, updates from polling locations across the city and the latest on the presidential race. 

Our team will be reporting on the ground across the city so expect stories on voter turnout, polling place issues, results from the presidential race, Congress, Cook County and the Chicago Board of Education. We'll also keep you updated on an Illinois congressional race that could have a big impact nationally. We'll also go local with suburban forest preserve referendums and whether or not one Ravenswood "dry" precinct overturns its longtime ban on alcohol sales. 

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Election Day Tips From Polling Location Advice to Same-Day Registration

Chicago voting booths are pictured in a file photo. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

If you plan on voting, here’s what you need to know.

When do polls open and close?

• All polls are open on Election Day from 6 a.m to 7 p.m. If you are in line by 7 p.m., you can still vote even after the polls close.

Where can I vote?

• On Election Day, city residents can vote in any of the one of 51 voting locations — the 50 ward sites and the supersite — or their assigned precinct polling place.

Can I still register to vote?

• Same-day voter registration is available at your precinct polling place and at the 51 sites open as vote centers on Election Day, including those updating their registration due to an address or name change. Bring two forms of ID, one with your current address. Unsure about whether you’re registered? Look up your voter information on the Chicago Board of Elections website.

What if I change my mind about voting by mail and want to vote in person instead?

• Voters may take the vote by mail ballot to their precinct polling place or nearest vote center on Election Day, surrender the ballot and then vote on a new ballot. If you have not yet received your ballot in the mail, you will be asked to sign an affidavit form and then you will be allowed to vote.

Bring the WTTW News Voter Guide to the Polls

(WTTW News) 

With today's historic election upon us, WTTW News has a handy voter guide to help you navigate everything on your ballot. From the presidency and House of Representatives to the first-ever Chicago Board of Education elections and a labyrinthian list of judges up for retention, we've compiled a fact-based, nonpartisan and comprehensive look at each race and ballot measure. 

Here are our guides to the races: 

• President

• US House 

• Cook County State's Attorney

• Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court

• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners (6-year term)

• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners (unexpired 2-year term)

• Chicago Board of Education

• Illinois Supreme Court

• Ballot Measures

Our Voter Toolbox is the place to go for information on where to vote and all the things you need to know about Election Day.

Also From WTTW News: 

• What happens to your ballot after you vote? WTTW News explains here. 

• Here’s everything you need to know about the first Chicago Board of Education elections. 

• In suburban collar counties, nature is on the ballot as forest preserve districts ask for more funding to buy and restore land. 

• Feeling anxiety about the results? You are not alone. 

• We also pulled together the latest election and political coverage from our WTTW News team.

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Back in the Day: How Illinois Voted In Every Presidential Election Held on Nov. 5

If you haven’t been able to tell from today’s stories, it’s Election Day. Since 1845, when Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Election Day, only six presidential elections have been held on Nov. 5. Though Illinois has been a firmly blue state since 1992, it wasn’t always the case. Here at Daily Chicagoan, we decided to tweak the Back in the Day formula to run down how our state voted for each election held on this date. 

Nov. 5, 1996: Democrat Bill Clinton wins the state with 54.32% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Bob Dole (36.81%) and Reform candidate Ross Perot (8.03%). 

Nov. 5, 1968: Republican Richard Nixon wins the state with 47.08% of the vote, defeating Democrat nominee Hubert Humphrey (44.15%) and American Independent candidate, segregationist George Wallace (8.46%). 

Nov. 5, 1940: Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt wins the state with 50.97% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Wendell Willkee (48.54%). 

Nov. 5, 1912: Democrat Woodrow Wilson wins the state with 35.34% of the vote, defeating “Bull Moose” candidate Theodore Roosevelt (33.72%), Republican nominee William H. Taft (22.13%) and Socialist Eugene Debs (7.09%). 

Nov. 5, 1872: Republican Ulysses S. Grant (and Illinois native) wins the state with 56.27% of the vote, defeating Democratic-endorsed Liberal Republican nominee Horace Greeley (43%). 

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Other News From Around Town:

• The Sun-Times reports that an Orland Park man is accused of cutting to the front of the voting line and punching an election judge. 

   

  
  

The Cubs lost last night. With their playoff hopes fading, the defeat hands the NL Central title to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

What’s the best sandwich in Chicago? Tell us why and where we can find it. 

Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. 

• It's Election Day across the country. We break down what you should know and have a live report from the Chicago Board of Elections on voter turnout.  

5:30 PM| 10:00 PM

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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry