Chicago, Cook County officials get people registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day

CHICAGO (WLS) -- City and county election officials kicked off an effort Tuesday to get people registered to vote for the November election.

Some church leaders are also doing their part. It comes as Chicago is seeing a surge interest among younger voters.

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ABC7 caught up with one young woman who registered to vote for the very first time.

Shiela Holtschneider is an 18-year-old student at DePaul University who is ready to make her voice heard for the first time. She took advantage of a booth set up at Daley Plaza as part of National Voter Registration Day.

"It feels really amazing, because I've never done this before. So, it was a new process over me, but it was very straightforward online, and I'm excited to have my voice heard in this election," Holtschneider said.

Chicago and Cook County have both seen tens of thousands of new voters get registered these past few months.

"We've seen over 37,000 new registered voters since June 1. A majority of those are under 34, and majority are women, too," said Max Bever with the Chicago Board of Elections.

As with most presidential elections, voter turnout is expected to be high.

"Upwards of 70% or more. And as far as safety and security of the elections, we are very confident that your vote, our voters are going to have access, and they can rely upon, that vote is going to be counted and not manipulated," said Cook County Clerk Cedric Giles.

Susie Ortiz just moved back to Chicago and wanted to make sure she got registered in the city.

"We have to have our voice heard. You know that, especially being a female and a Hispanic woman, we need to have our voice heard," Ortiz said.

In heavily Democratic Cook County, the excitement for Vice President Kamala Harris expected to push the Black vote even higher, and some ministers are doing their part.

"So, you've got to make sure that everybody's registered. Rainbow PUSH is leading a get out the vote caravan across the Midwest," said Rev. Janette Wilson with Operation Push.

Election officials have been trying to dispel concerns about mail-in ballot fraud or new migrants being allowed to vote.

"The thought that migrants are going to be coming in to register to vote in suburban Cook County, by any numbers, is just ridiculous," said Cook County Deputy Clerk of Elections Edmund Michalowski.

Early voting gets underway in just a couple of weeks.

In Chicago, it starts Oct. 3. In Cook County, it starts on Oct. 9.

Here are some key dates to know about voting in Illinois:

• The deadline to register by mail is Oct. 8.
• Online registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Oc. 20.
• Some can register to vote in-person during early voting from Sept. 26 through Nov. 4.
• Residents can register to vote at select polling sites on Election Day, which is Nov. 5

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