Early voting turnout and vote-by-mail trends
Summary
Both party chairmen asked for an extra Sunday of early voting, and the Board said yes unanimously — but staff warned they may struggle to fully staff all 11 sites, since overtime is voluntary and some workers may have religious objections.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 20, 2026.
Impact analysis
Some staff overtime or comp time will be needed if volunteers don't fill the Sunday shifts.
Any Lake County voter who can't get to the polls on weekdays gains a weekend voting option.
East Chicago residents who don't hear about the move through word of mouth or churches may show up at the wrong place or not vote.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Lake County Voters Face Important Choices
Lake County Voters Face Important Choices The Chicago Crusader
Board of Elections - Oct 20, 2026
Fifteen days out, in-person early voting is about 6,400 ballots ahead of the same point in 2022, while vote-by-mail is down sharply (2,057 vs. 4,658). Staff thinks concerns about the mail system this year are pushing voters to vote early in person instead.
Board of Elections - Sep 29, 2026
Both party chairmen asked for an extra Sunday of early voting, and the Board said yes unanimously — but staff warned they may struggle to fully staff all 11 sites, since overtime is voluntary and some workers may have religious objections.
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