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Polls Open For Chicago's First Mayoral Runoff

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Polls have opened for the runoff elections in the race for mayor and 18 City Council seats in Chicago, as well as hundreds of local races in the suburbs.

Location your nearest polling place to vote »

For Chicago, it is the first mayoral runoff since Chicago began using nonpartisan elections in the race for mayor in 1995. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is facing off against Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.

Stay with CBS 2, WBBM Newsradio 780, and CBSChicago.com for full election results Tuesday night.

Election officials were reminding voters in Chicago that 38 precincts have changed locations, so voters should check their polling location online before they leave to vote if they're unsure where their polling place is.

Officials on Tuesday afternoon said six precincts would stay open until 8 p.m. because of late openings.

More than 142,000 people already have cast their ballots in Chicago as part of early voting.

Meantime, in Naperville, voters will elect a successor to Mayor George Pradel, who is stepping down after 20 years in office. Several other suburbs are holding elections for village president, town councils, school boards, and tax hike referenda.

To protect against any fraud or other problems at the polls, the Illinois Attorney General's office and U.S. Attorney's office both have investigators monitoring the polls to enforce proper procedures.

During the February elections, officials reported some minor equipment problems, a few cases of illegal electioneering too close to a polling place, and a few polling places opening late. In the 5th Ward of Chicago, an election judge was accused of attempting to sway a voter, but the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said the allegations were unfounded.

Polls were scheduled to close at 7 p.m., and anyone in line at that time will be allowed to vote.

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