Cook County Clerk and Chicago Bears Launch Historic High School Early Voting Program

(From left) High School District 214 Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, and Ted Crews, Special Advisor to the President and CEO and Chief Administrative Officer of the Chicago Bears, pose with students during an Election Judge training at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. Photos provided by STH Media
(From left) High School District 214 Superintendent Dr. Scott Rowe, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, and Ted Crews, Special Advisor to the President and CEO and Chief Administrative Officer of the Chicago Bears, pose with students during an Election Judge training at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. Photos provided by STH Media

Cook County Clerk and Chicago Bears Launch Historic High School Early Voting Program

 

In partnership with the Chicago Bears organization, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is launching a first-of-its-kind High School Early Voting program, bringing official Early Voting sites to more than 20 suburban high schools across the county at the start of Early Voting for the March 17 Gubernatorial Primary Election.

 

Through this first-of-its-kind initiative, students from 24 Cook County high schools are being trained as official Election Judges who will operate on-campus Early Voting sites at their schools, giving their peers the opportunity to participate in a real election environment at the start of the Early Voting period. 

 

“This is not a simulation or a classroom exercise — this is real democracy in action,” said Monica Gordon, in announcing the program. “By training students to run official Early Voting sites in their own schools, we are giving young people real responsibility, real trust, and a meaningful role in the democratic process.”

 

 The training, which is taking place January 6-8, will instruct students on the fundamentals of election administration, including voter check-in procedures, ballot handling, and voting equipment operations. Upon completion of training, students will be responsible for running Early Voting locations at their individual schools.

 

The “Defenders of DA’mocracy” program will officially take place at the participating high schools on February 26, 2026, just days in advance of traditional Early Voting in suburban Cook County.

 

This innovative partnership blends civic engagement, youth leadership, and hands-on learning to place students on the front lines of democracy while expanding access to Early Voting.  The program is also designed to highlight how preparation and teamwork — on and off the field — help make the democratic process work.

 

As part of the initiative, the Chicago Bears will officially serve as a Community Civic Engagement Supporter, providing Bears-branded items to the student participants and sharing a brief video message from a Bears player encouraging student involvement in the democratic process.


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