Early voting began Monday at various locations in Chicago.

Early voting for this year’s March 19 primary elections began Monday across Chicago and in select Illinois counties.

Chicagoans can vote in person or drop off ballots from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through March 18. They can go to sites in all 50 neighborhoods. residents of the neighborhood in which they voted.

Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Chair Marisel Hernandez announced updates on the city’s ballot measure and available foreign language services during a press event at the board’s Supersite, 191 N. Clark St., where early voting has been available since Feb. 8.

“We are only two weeks away from the March 19 primary, so we are urging Chicago voters to vote early,” Hernandez said. “Avoid last-minute interruptions in life that could hinder voting, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with setting aside your civic duty.”

The statement came hours later The Supreme Court announced its decision This would allow former President Donald Trump to remain in the Republican primary in Illinois.

Still controversial is Bring Chicago Home citywide referendum Voters are being asked whether they support increasing the property transfer tax on senior sales to ensure consistent funding for housing and social services. A Cook County judge disqualified the referendum because of a lawsuit filed by real estate agents. If the decision survives appeal, the votes in the referendum will not be counted.

“We know there are a lot of questions from voters about the city’s ballot status,” Hernandez said. “Voters will continue to see these voting options on their ballots, and we encourage voters to vote according to their preferences. Your ballot will not be rejected because you voted or did not vote for a particular race or question.”

As of Monday, about 2,700 Chicago voters had pre-voted in person through early voting, a nearly 42% increase from the same time before the 2016 and 2020 presidential primaries, Hernandez said. He said about 165,000 applications for mail-in ballots have been submitted so far, compared with 200,000 requested before the 2022 midterm elections.

“I’m optimistic that early voting will increase and turnout will be good,” Hernandez said.

Twenty-five early voting sites are staffed with bilingual officers to help voters cast their ballots. All 50 early voting sites have touch-screen voting machines and voice ballots in 12 languages.

On Monday morning, several voters stopped to vote or vote at the Loop Supersite. Among them was Christopher Vaughn, who said he found early voting more convenient than going to the polls on election day.

“I vote all the time, I never miss an election,” Vaughn said.

Although the deadline to vote by mail is 5 p.m. on March 14, Matt Dietrich of the Illinois State Board of Elections said he is warning voters, especially in the Chicago metro area, not to wait until the deadline.

“You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where it’s the morning of Election Day, you’ve requested a mail-in ballot, and it hasn’t happened yet,” Dietrich said.

Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at any early voting location. Dietrich said about 100,000 mail-in ballots have been returned across Illinois, and she expects early votes, both by mail and in person, to make up about 40% of the total in this year’s primary.

Early voting instructions and polling locations across Illinois are listed on the State Board of Elections Web site.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com