first-time voters

The award honors the Clerk's Office for developing the "Defenders of DA'mocracy" program in partnership with the Chicago Bears. The initiative introduced Early Voting sites at suburban high schools while allowing eligible students to serve as Election Judges during the March 2026 Illinois gubernatorial primary election. #cookcounty #award #election

On Feb. 26, student voters alone surpassed the weeklong total from those early voting sites — a milestone county officials say highlights the program’s immediate impact. #earlyvoting #students #cookcounty