Action Ridge voter rally set for Oct. 17 in Park Ridge

Park Ridge civic group Action Ridge will hold a voter-turnout rally Saturday, Oct. 17, nine days before the Nov. 3 election.

The event, first reported by Igor Studenkov at the Journal & Topics, will focus on the importance of voting in the gubernatorial general election and share early voting details for Park Ridge and Niles residents.

The rally falls two days before expanded early voting opens at the Centennial Activity Center, 100 S. Western Ave., on Monday, Oct. 19.

Action Ridge has organized in the area before. In May 2022, the group co-sponsored a United Against Hate rally and march through Niles and Park Ridge alongside the Niles Coalition and Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton. That event responded to antisemitic flyers distributed in Niles, Park Ridge and Glenview earlier that spring.

More recently, Action Ridge hosted ACLU of Illinois senior supervising attorney and Park Ridge resident Melissa Staas for a Sept. 9 discussion on election integrity at Park Ridge Community Church.

Park Ridge voters heading to the polls early will find a new location this year. City Clerk Michael Lupo announced during the Aug. 17 city council meeting that early voting moved from City Hall to the Centennial Activity Center because past elections drew crowds that outgrew the space, according to the Journal & Topics.

Expanded early voting runs Oct. 19 through Monday, Nov. 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Countywide, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said in an Oct. 5 statement that early voting expands to 56 suburban Cook County sites on Oct. 19. Gordon said the expansion offers "flexibility and convenience, allowing them to cast their ballot at a time and location that works best for their schedule." Voters may cast a ballot at any early voting location in suburban Cook County, regardless of where they live.

Key dates for Park Ridge and Niles voters: