Mayoral election Chicago: Candidates vie for undecided voters in final push

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago voters are going to the polls on Election Day Tuesday to narrow down the field of nine candidates in the race for mayor.

Nine men and women are vying to lead the city.

If no one candidate wins 50%, voters will return to the polls for a runoff.

RELATED: Chicago Mayoral Election: Latest poll shows Paul Vallas widening lead, no clear 2nd place candidate

Mayoral candidates are after those undecided voters Tuesday.

All nine candidates are making a final push on this Election Day, crisscrossing the city.

WATCH: What happens next if mayoral election goes to a runoff?

Ahead of Election Day, a record number, over 244,000 early votes, have been cast, with more than 1/3 of early voters age 65 and older.

By 9 a.m. Tuesday, nearly another 40,000 votes had been cast, with the largest percentage of Chicagoans who voted being 65 and older.

Election officials said they’re pleased with voter turnout so far.

Almost 18% of more than 1.5 million registered Chicago voters have already cast a ballot citywide.

With more than 100,000 vote-by-mail ballots that have not been returned, it could be a few days until the results of many races are known.

“That could potentially make a difference in some aldermanic, mayoral and other races. So it is very possible we wouldn’t know by tonight who the top two candidates are,” Marisel Hernandez said.

SEE MORE: Chicago Election 2023: Full coverage of mayoral race, city council seats and more

A new poll shows Paul Vallas on top, with nearly 27% of support, followed by Brandon Johnson, Lori Lightfoot, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and Willie Wilson.

The top two candidates are expected to face off in an April run-off.

“People all over the city of Chicago have been anticipating this day for a long time, turning the page on the old style of politics that have left families behind, and we are ready to usher in a better, stronger, safer Chicago,” Johnson said.

Cook County Commissioner Johnson believes the city is ready for him to bring about change.

He voted earlier Tuesday morning at a Chicago Housing Authority apartment building on the West Side with his wife.

Garcia understands how close the race really is. He voted early Tuesday on the North Side.

“That’s why getting the vote out is so important. The other factor is how the board processes the vote-by-mail ballots. It could be that if things are really tight, and the votes that were cast the last two days aren’t counted, that it could be a long week,” he said.

Incumbent Mayor Lightfoot is making several stops throughout the day, greeting voters, asking them to give her more time to finish what she’s started.

“The most important thing to do is for people to vote, and then, if they vote in return, we’re going to continue the work that we’ve been doing. I’m all over the city, but particularly on the West Side. We have deep investments, deep relationships and partnerships that we built. And I’m excited for those that continue,” Lightfoot said.

Alderman Roderick Sawyer voted at Saint Moses Catholic Church on the South Side.

Candidate Kam Buckner greeted commuters at the CTA Belmont station, and Ja’Mal Green visited restaurant patrons at Daley’s in Woodlawn.

Wilson visited the Original Pancake House in Kenwood, hoping people make him the city’s next mayor.

On Monday, Vallas said, “I think we’re finishing strong. Our message about public safety, about city affordability, about quality schools is resonating.”

WATCH: Is mayoral election a race for second place?

Voters said this was not an easy decision, as there are so many candidates for mayor.

“I mean anytime you have nine candidates, makes it a little more difficult because there are sometimes just one or two things that separate the candidates, so yeah, it was fairly difficult,” voter Kevin Sweetland said.

Issues like public safety, equity and taxes are at the top the list for many at the ballot box.

“Taxes, property taxes, that’s more important, anything besides the crime,” voter Clarence Bowers said.

“I think, investment in our communities, inclusion of traditionally left out and forgotten about groups. It’s going to be an incredibly important issue no matter who makes it to the runoff. I think once we get to that. That’s what’s gonna be the most important issue for me,” voter Lamar Brown said.

Voter Laura Stukas said stopping the violence is paramount.

WATCH: What are Chicago voters’ top issues?

“I have lived downtown for 20 years. I’m a born and raised Chicagoan, and I don’t like the way my city looks anymore. So things have to change,” she said.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson voted at the Super Site in the Loop Tuesday morning, saying education is his top issue.

“We vote today, and make a statement. Whoever is in the runoff has to deal with education. There’s so much focus on crime, crime, crime, crime, crime, crime,” Jackson said.

There are also races for aldermen in all 50 wards.

The polls opened at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.