>> Chicagoans, >> if you're eager to cast your ballot for next month's election.

Good news.

Early voting is officially underway and suburbanites already can or will soon be able to make their voices heard in the voting booth.

Or Nick Blumberg joins us now with the details.

Plus, what officials are doing to ensure election integrity.

Nick will brand is it might be a mid-term election, but there are a lot of high-profile races on the ballot in November.

This morning, the Chicago Board of Elections celebrated the opening of its traditional loop super site at state.

And Adams voters can cast their ballot there.

Anyone from all 50 wards.

You can also vote early at the board's office that 69 West Washington now on October 19th, the board will open 50 early voting sites in each of the city's wards.

You can cast a ballot at any of those locations, regardless of where you live.

>> Then on Election Day, all 1291 precinct polling places will go live.

You'll have to go to your assigned location.

If you vote day or you can use that super site or the board office downtown, if you're not registered, you can do so day early voting sites or on Election Day.

Now, of course, there's also the option to vote by mail.

If you're already signed up, those ballots have been sent out.

They have to be postmarked by Election Day or you can put them in drop boxes at voting locations.

Now officials say mail those ballots as soon as possible, especially because there have been changes to how USPS processes mail.

It means items don't always get postmarked the day they're dropped off.

And if you haven't signed up to vote by mail, you have until 5 o'clock on October 29th to apply.

That's true.

Across Illinois, suburban Cook County residents can start voting early next week on October, 7th and early voting is already underway in the 6 collar counties.

They got the drop on Yes, they a man and a few dates for for Cook County in Chicago to remember.

So speaking of vote by mail, there have been some concerns, Nick, about the Trump administration's efforts to change that process.

But folks need to know.

That's right.

President Donald Trump attempted via executive order to give the U.S.

Postal Service.

The authority to determine who can get and use mail-in ballots.

The idea is states would send USPS a list of eligible voters which would then use to determine eligibility.

Illinois was among the states and voter advocacy groups who sued over that rule because the Constitution says states run elections, not the federal government.

A federal judge blocked that rule and the Supreme Court upheld that decision of the state Board of Elections.

Also recently said not to believe any claims of widespread voter fraud that election systems can be easily hacked or tampered with.

There have also been fears that ice or other federal immigration agents might show up at polling places too, perhaps intimidate or even detained voters.

Chicago Board of Elections Chair Marisol Hernandez says officials are prepared to respond if that happens and that their loss to prevent anyone from intimidating voters or interfering with their right to cast a ballot.

>> Have instructed.

Our poll workers.

That anything, anything occurs, they are to notify first.

The police department.

And secondly.

Our election central offices and we are prepared 2, do everything we need to do and whether that having law enforcement there.

To protect the rights of the voters.

And go to court to get an injunction.

>> Hernandez also encourage voters worried about immigration agents at polling places to vote by mail.

And Nic, you mentioned some prominent seats up this year.

Reminders to voters are going to be deciding on will.

Of course, we've got the race for governor along with the rest of the statewide offices.

There's the race to succeed.

Durbin in the U.S.

Senate after his 30 year career.

Plus, a slew of Congress.

People are either retiring or lost in the Senate primary.

That's creating 5 open seats in the U.S.

House.

And as we've talked about a lot on this program for the first time, the full 21 member Chicago School board and the board's president will be on the ballot.

So lots of choices to make could be a long ballot for some folks.

Nick number, thanks so much.

Thank And you