A record number of people have voted early in the 2026 Illinois primary elections in Chicago and the Cook County suburbs, surpassing the turnout from the last midterm elections when President Trump

The Chicago Board of Elections said early voting numbers for the 2026 Illinois primary election Tuesday are already higher than previous midterm years.

Cook County and the state of Illinois erased upwards of $1.5 billion in medical debt for over 770,000 Cook County residents through the Illinois Medical Debt Relief Program, leaving many county residents feeling relieved and thankful.

The 17-member Cook County Board is guaranteed at least four new faces next year thanks to two retirements and two ambitious congressional hopefuls. Among the spots up for grabs in primary elections

Officials in Cook County, Illinois crafted rules for a permanent guaranteed income program, building on pilot that provided 3,250 families with $500 monthly.

Hynes got his start as a commercial appraiser of industrial properties and later became a longtime employee of the Cook County Assessor’s Office. He worked under former assessor

Programs help over 1 million residents, but lawmakers debate whether future funding will be there.

Cook County homeowners have all been granted an extension in paying their first-installment property tax bills for 2026.

Illinois and local officials announced Cook County will continue funding the medical debt forgiveness program next year, once funds run out.