Chicago volunteers travel to Wisconsin, Michigan to encourage voters ahead of Election Day

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Rainy weather Sunday didn't slow Chicagoans down in the last two days before Election Day.

Democrats and Republicans are making a last minute push to get voters to the polls. A number of Chicagoans headed to neighboring swing states to reach voters there.

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Dozens of Democrat volunteers geared up Sunday morning in the 47th Ward on the city's North Side for a trip north to Wisconsin as part of Operation Swing State.

"Not only do they got to vote, get your family member to vote, get your child to vote, go make sure that you get your neighbor to vote," one volunteer said.

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"It's been astonishing," 47th Ward Precinct Captain James Janega said. "The last 48 hours have seen just such an influx of people volunteering for these, for these outings, for these, for these volunteer canvassing trips, that we haven't been able to keep up."

Armed with Harris Walz signs and a sense of urgency, the group headed to Milwaukee to knock on doors, talk to people and ask them to vote democratic. Similar groups of volunteers also made a trip to Michigan.

Personal PAC CEO Sarah Garza Resnick was in Muskegon on Sunday.

"I was on the ground for Obama in '08 and in '12, and I have never seen the energy like I have seen today," Garza Resnick said. "We need to be hopeful. We need to work hard for the next few days, and we have to run through that tape, and we need to sprint to the finish line."

With Chicago solidly blue, Republicans were canvassing in collar counties this weekend, focusing on state races, with Donald Trump and the Republican Party embracing early voting for the first time in a presidential election.

"If you want change, vote Republican, and that message is resonating," Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi. "We're seeing historic numbers of Republicans early voting, and our get off the vote program, which is historic in 2024, is really working."

In River North, community leaders gathered for a series of soap box talks about politics important to woman with the election at hand.

"In my role as Kamala's election co-chair, I can tell you that the excitement is just undeniable," Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth said.

The line to vote was long at the Supersite in the Loop on Sunday. For those looking to exercise their right to vote for the first time, it was time well spent.

"When we step up, when we lead, when we bring our lived experience to the challenges of the day, great things happen for everyone," former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.

Earlier in the day, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson revved up a group of Kamala Harris supporters in Durham, North Carolina.

"People want something to believe in," Johnson said. "It's not just about who they get to believe in. It's what."

Meanwhile outside Chicago's downtown Supersite, voters stood in long lines in the rain to cast their vote early.

"We stood in line for a while," voter Colleen Burnett said. "I knew that early voting was going to take a while, but I know Election day is going to be a lot worse. And actually it was like a lot of fun standing in line, got to talk to a lot of people."

The line to vote at the Supersite in the Loop extended around the corner and into a nearby parking lot.

"I'd actually heard that the Supersite down here was going a lot quicker out in the neighborhoods, it was a lot longer, so I came downtown," voter Michael Antoine said.

"I think when my 16-year-old daughter sees me waiting in line, when my daughter sees me doing my part, I think she do her part as well," voter Jorge De La Cruz said.

For those looking to exercise their right to vote for the first time, the waiting was time well spent.

"I mean, it was great," first-time voter Grace Burnett said. "I actually came with my mom, and we were outside for about an hour, but it was, it was worth it. We're able to talk to people in line. Everyone was extremely friendly. And, yeah, I'm very excited to be here, and I'm very excited to cast my vote."

With the race for the White House remaining very close, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have ramped up their courtship of young voters.

"I know it's two options, but it's definitely still hard," first-time voter Elian Perez said. "It's not like a yes or no question. You have to look into everything. The pros and cons. All of this."

The latest ABC News/Ipsos poll found Harris leading Trump by 14 points among voters under 30 years old.

"I'm loving that I get to be a part of it so far," first-time voter Arabella Davis said. "My parents are very into politics. My dad especially. I always grew up knowing that I wanted to vote.

Three friends, all freshmen at DePaul University, spent part of their afternoon waiting in line and determined to make their vote count.

"It feels a bit weird," first-time voter Leah Walker said. It's kind of a bit deal. And especially, this election it's so close. And I feel like everybody's votes matter this year.

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"It feels exciting," first-time voter Haddie Hohmann said. "It's kind of, like, I didn't know it took this long, but it is exciting and it feels, like, historically relevant."

While young voters are further to the left on the ideological spectrum compared to their older counterparts, they are less likely to vote. In 2020, around 50% of those aged 18-29 turned out to vote, compared to 66% of the general electorate.

Not all first-time voters Sunday were young adults, however. First-time voter Melissa Yousefi is 34. The abortion issue is what brought her to the polls.

"It's what we have to do," Yousefi said. "My personal reason is... it's important that other women have the rights that I do. That's why I'm here for the first time."

It is estimated that some 8 million new voters may be eligible to cast ballots in this year's presidential election. The question is how many will vote.