Polls are open until 7pm and several races could shape Illinois' political leadership for the next four years.

Not sure where you vote?📍Find your local polling place.

Zoom in: This primary election has already seen a huge jump in early voting.

• As of Sunday, 160,844 ballots had been cast. That's up from nearly 100,000 ballots received two days before the 2022 midterm primary, according to election officials.

How it works: In Illinois, voters must choose a Democratic, Republican or independent ballot. The independent ballot only includes referendums in jurisdictions where they appear.

What you need to bring: If you're voting in your precinct, you don't need to present any identification, but it's a good idea to bring your ID in case an election judge challenges your right to vote.

• If you are not registered to vote, same-day registration is available today. Make sure to have two forms of ID if you're registering in person, changing your address or filing a name change.

The intrigue: While state law allows mail-in ballots postmarked on or before today to count, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias implored voters last week to send their mail-in ballots to avoid the hassle of new U.S. Postal Service postmarking rules.

Yes, but: If you didn't mail your ballot in, you can still drop it off at any of the 52 secure drop boxes at all early voting sites.

• If you need to send it through the mail, it's best to go to the post office counter and request a manual postmark.

Go deeper: Read our 2026 midterm primary voting guide

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Today should be a holiday. Wait, it is? Well, we mean, Election Day should be a holiday.

• We have a few questions and would appreciate your responses!

State of play: We're dead set on creating the most authentic Chicago database for a new live game show. Think "Family Feud" meets "Jeopardy!" but over beers at a local dive bar.

Today's questions: We love the political culture in this city that goes back centuries, and we know you do, too.

Take the Election Day survey here!

🛄 Leaders of 10 U.S. airlines, including United, have asked Congress to end the government shutdown so airport workers can get paid and travel can be smoother. (Crain's)

🚨 Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol official who became the face of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown in Chicago and Minneapolis, plans to retire at the end of the month. (Axios)

⚾️ Cubs star Seyai Suzuki hurt his knee during the World Baseball Classic and underwent an MRI yesterday. The team should know his status later today. (MLB)

Sure, everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's Day, but in Chicago, about 8% of the population can actually say that.

By the numbers: Despite the old tradition of candidates adopting an Irish surname to secure more votes, Cook County has far fewer descendants of the Emerald Isle than many other parts of the state.

• DuPage County's Irish population is 13% and McHenry's is 15%.
• The most Irish place in Illinois is Gallatin County in the far southern tip, with 18% of the population claiming Irish roots.
• The area, oddly enough, is nicknamed "Little Egypt."

👋 Hey, it's Justin.

Chicago revelers packed neighborhood bars and parades over the weekend to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

The big picture: Young partiers watched the river dyeing, cheered on parades and waited in absurdly long lines to get into bars.

• Oh yeah, they also drank Borgs.

State of play: A "Borg" (Blackout Rage Gallon) is a mixture of alcohol, water and a drink mix (like Kool-Aid or Pedialyte) carried around in gallon milk jugs.

• They're colorful. They're obvious. And downtown police reportedly confiscated hundreds.

Why would the Chicago police do that? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRINK ON THE STREET!

Zoom in: Listen, I know the young generations don't want to take advice from us old-timers, but you aren't the first to bring booze to a downtown parade.

• In fact, it's a rite of passage to sneak drinks where they aren't allowed.
• Gen X learned from our ancestors and used thermoses or snuck flasks in our winter coats, or, heck, even tossed cans of beer in our hoodies.
• We took pride in being stealthy and slipping past the authorities.

The bottom line: You are embarrassing your elders. Next time you want to drink downtown, ask your grandparents how they used to do it.

• Now, get off my lawn! 🤣

💭 Carrie's thought bubble: We Millennials also practiced some drunken decorum and carried our "road sodas" in coffee cups, water bottles or pop cans. Nowadays, I just make sure to have my Ibuprofen and Pepcid when I go out. Party!

💭 Moyo's thought bubble: I suppose sneaking around to sip alcohol isn't as fun as drinking boldly around town. The least we can do is recycle the milk jug.

🍺 Share with us your sneaky drinking stories and we'll publish them later this week.

👋 Hey, it's Monica. I'm back with another review of the most intriguing happy hours.

The spot: Briny Swine Smokehouse and Oyster Bar (2577 N. Clark St.) is one of the city's only coastal Carolina-style barbecue joints.

The hours: 4-6pm every day.

The vibe: Breezy open room with bros, professionals and Lincoln Park families.

The bites: Oysters ($1.75 each), fried pickles ($5), pork rinds with pimento cheese ($5), barbecue tater tots topped like nachos ($7) and slider of the week ($5).

The drinks: $10 cocktails, $5 draft craft beer and $5 Tito's vodka in various drinks.

Perfect pair: Maplewood Son of Juice IPA with cheesy pork rinds.

🍻 Eight-word review: Tasty Carolina coastal chow and good cheap beer.