A 2024 election primer from Cook County

With so much focus already on the general elections in November, local races are easily overlooked. Cook County is holding a series of elections this year, and WTIP spoke with Elections Director Cortnee Bernier and Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers about what residents should know, whether they are participating as voters, candidates, or election judges.

2024 Election days in Cook County

• March 5, Presidential Primary
• March 12, Township elections
• Aug. 13, State Primary (including contested County-wide seats)
• Nov. 5, General Election

Registering to vote

• To register more than 20 days before an election, simply fill out a voter registration form
• To register within 20 days of an election, proof of residence is required in-person at the Auditor-Treasurer’s office (state ID or driver’s license with a current street address, ID and a utility bill that proves current address, or an ID and a registered voter from the same precinct to vouch for the new voter)
• Same-day registration is allowed

Casting a ballot

• Cook County has only two in-person polling locations, both for voters who live within Grand Marais city limits; all other precincts vote by mail
• Mail ballots can be returned by post or dropped off at the Cook County Courthouse through Election Day
• Registered voters will receive mail ballots automatically at their registered address
• Voters in need of someone to witness their ballot casting can bring their blank ballot to the Auditor/Treasurer’s office, where staff can serve as a witness

Upcoming filing dates

• May 21 – June 4, filing for races that may require a primary (in 2024, this will be County Commissioner Districts 2 and 4, and Soil and Water Districts 1,3, and 5)
• July 30 – August 13, filing for races that do not include a primary (in 2024, this will be elections for City of Grand Marais officials, ISD 166 School Board, and the North Shore Health board)

Bernier said that filing to become a candidate involves some simple paperwork and paying a filing fee, and that those interested in becoming candidates should visit the Auditor’s office at the Cook County Courthouse.

Another way for residents to be involved in elections is by acting as an election judge. Powers said that the county has been able to recruit enough judges for the upcoming elections. He also said, however, that interested parties can still volunteer for future elections, especially since sometimes the county has struggled to maintain the correct party ratio of judges. He said, “One of the key things with election judges is we have to have party balance, whether it’s in the polling place or in the mail ballot elections, and so sometimes that’s difficult for us. We’re very heavily Democratic farmer labor up here. So we’re always looking for Republican election judges, because we need to create that party balance in each precinct.”

Bernier and Powers recommend that residents with questions about their registration status, which precinct they live in, or which candidates will be on their ballots should visit the state elections website, or contact the Cook County Auditor/Treasurer’s office.

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Cook County Elections Director Cortnee Bernier and Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers about the upcoming election dates in Cook County, and what voters need to know as they prepare to cast their ballots. Audio from the interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski February 26, 2024