2024 election live updates: Chicago voters cast their ballot for president and school board

Election day got off to a rocky start at Ogden Elementary School, 24 W. Walton St. in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, as some voters were told their entire precinct had already cast their ballots.

The problem, which only affected voters in the 12th District, was due to the website's electronic poll books, said Max Bever, director of public information for the Chicago Board of Elections. Poll workers told voters to go to the nearest voting center instead if they couldn't stay in line or to return before polls closed at 7 p.m

A local poll worker told WBEZ shortly before 9 a.m. that the problem had been resolved and everything was now running smoothly.

Gold Coast resident James Cohoon arrived in Ogden at 6am to cast his vote. When he arrived, Cohoon said poll workers told residents of the 12th District that everyone in that district had already voted.

“And obviously we don’t,” Cohoon said.

After a few hours — and without a clear explanation — Cohoon and others were able to cast their votes. Cohoon ended up waiting in line for nearly three hours.

“Two hours and 45 minutes, that’s ridiculous. That's sad. It almost feels like you’re losing your voice,” Cohoon said.

Cohoon was able to wait out the inconvenience, but said he saw other people leave before they could vote, adding that some older voters were looking for a place to sit.

“Unfortunately, because of this long period of waiting and frustration, there are people who are walking away, they are losing their voice, they are losing their voice,” Cohoon said.