Be sure to check out our 201o Election Round Up.

11:45 p.m.

Republican Mark Kirk is in and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is out. Kirk beat out Giannoulias for the U.S. Senate seat in a close race, capturing 1,717,193 votes, or 48.3 percent, while his opponent only gathered 1,638,323 votes, or 46.1 percent. 

According to the Chicago Tribune, Kirk told a cheering crowd that "We saw dark days surrounding this Senate seat. Blagojevich tried to sell it ... Democrats fought a special election to fill it...

"And this Senate seat has just returned to its rightful owners, the people of Illinois."

10:27 p.m.

The race between Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias  for U.S. Senate is neck and neck. Currently, Kirk has 1,587,935 votes, or 48.2 percent, while Giannoulias has 1,520,678, or 46.2 percent. 

10:13 p.m.

It's official: Democrat Daniel Biss has defeated Republican Hamilton Chang. Biss finished out with 21,019 votes, or 53.9% while Chang ended with 17,974, or 46.1%.

9:50 p.m.

After barely losing in the last election, it looks like Democrat Daniel Biss is going to finish a winner this year. He is currently ahead of Republican Hamilton Chang. At time of publication, Biss has 18,932 votes, or 54.15 percent, compared with Chang's 16,030 votes, or 45.83 percent. Sixteen more precincts still need to report to the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Check back later for more updates.

8:50 p.m.

At Jan Schakowsky's campaign party at Firehouse Grill in Evanston. It appears the incumbent Democrat has sealed the deal in the 9th District congressional race with more than 65 percent of the precincts reporting results to the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Also, it looks like Democrat Alexi Giannoulias is pulling away from Republican Mark Kirk; yet its still a close one. See results below.

7:44 p.m.

The latest results are in for the Jan Schakowksy-Joel Pollak race for the 9th Congressional District. As of right now, Republican Pollak has 9,031 votes, or 39.11 percent, and Democrat Schakowksy has 13,550 votes, or 58.67 percent.

At press time, reports were still awaited from 221 precincts in the suburban communities, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office.

Meanwhile, the race between Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk for the U.S. Senate continues to be a close one. Republican Kirk holds a slight lead over Democrat Giannoulias, with about 3,000 more votes.

Be sure to check back later for more updates.



More information

Unsure of your precinct? Simply fill out your address on the "Voter Information" page on Cook County Clerk David Orr's website. There, you can find your polling site, a sample ballot and a list of your elected officials--as well as their contact information.

Have more questions? The clerk's website has a helpful section to address all types of voter concerns, from instructions on how to send and absentee ballot to securing assistance for voters with disabilities.

On Election Day, keep your browsers pointed to Patch, as we'll be doing our very best to bring you results from statewide and local races.

Happy voting.

Election quick facts:

• Registered Voters: 1,370,187
• Grace-period registrants: 1,582
• Absentee ballot applications: 33,281
• Early voters: 83,881
• Precincts: 1,937
• Polling places: 1,218
• Contests: 144 (plus 65 judicial retention races)
• Candidates on ballot: 263 (plus 65 judicial retention races)
•  Referendums: 41
• Ballot styles: 422
•  Polls are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m.