The early voting period for the Nov. 6 General Election began Monday at 44 locations in Chicago’s suburbs and in 51 locations in Chicago.

This year, the early voting period is shorter than it has been in the past, the result of a change in state law. Early voting ends Nov. 3, the Saturday prior to the election.

For the last presidential election in 2008, a total of 226,000 residents of suburban Cook County took advantage of early voting, representing 21.4 percent of the entire turnout.

On Monday, Cook County Clerk David Orr reported that more than 13,500 voters cast ballots, setting a new record for the first day of early voting.

Suburban voters can cast their ballots at any of the suburban early voting locations, which are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Select locations are open on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Suburban residents can also cast early ballots downtown at the Cook County Clerk’s Office, 69 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago.

In order to vote at an early voting site, you must present a government-issued photo ID.

Nearby early voting sites include Berwyn City Hall, 6700 W. 26th St.; the Cicero PSO building, 5410 W. 34th St. (also open Sundays); the Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 49th Ave. (also open Sundays); the Stickney-Forest View Public Library, 6800 W. 43rd St., in Stickney; Hodgkins Village Hall, 8990 Lyons St.; and Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St.

For a list of all early voting locations in the suburbs visit the Cook County Clerk’s website at www.cookcountyclerk.com.