Politics & Government
How Niles Got Early Voting For First Time
Early voting started Monday; Cook County Clerk's office liked the space and handicapped accessibility at Niles Village Hall. But a neighboring town lost its Early Voting site.
For years, people asked Marlene Victorine, Niles' village clerk, if Niles could become an early voting site.
"But they (the Cook County Clerk's office) said they decided on the basis of population and centrality of location," Victorine said.
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This year, Niles got the gig, based on two other factors.
"The Niles Early Voting site is replacing Morton Grove Village Hall," said Courtney Greve, a spokesperson for Cook County Clerk David Orr's office.
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"The accessible entrance at Morton Grove Village Hall was a long walk all the way around the block (from the parking lot)," she said. "And we didn't think they'd have enough room for all the touch screens needed for a presidential election."
Earlier:
The changeover started, Victorine said, when Gail Weisberg, the county clerk's Manager of Voter Services, came by scouting for Early Voting sites.
"She was very happy with the Council Chambers," Victorine said. The room had enough electrical outlets, which are needed to power touch screen voting machines.
A key factor in the county's decision, however, was that people can go from the parking lot down a ramp to an elevator, then take the elevator one flight up to the Council Chambers. That's where Early Voting is taking place during regular Village Hall hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In previous years, Niles voters visited sites in Glenview, Park Ridge or Morton Grove if they wanted to cast their ballots before official Election Days. Early Voting allows voters to visit any of about 43 sites (the number varies depending on the year) in Cook County to vote; that's unlike regular election days, when citizens must cast their ballots in their own precincts.
Niles bears no cost to become an Early Voting site, according to the village clerk.
"I'm excited this is available, and the mayor is too," Victorine said. "It's good for residents."
Interested in Early Voting? Bring a photo ID. Click here for complete information and to see a sample ballot.
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