CHICAGO – The number of votes cast in parts of Illinois before Election Day could top records set four years ago, some officials predicted Monday as residents trickled to the polls for the first day of early voting in the state.

Rules have changed since 2008, making it easier for people to vote before Nov. 6. For one, the state no longer requires people to have a reason to vote by mail and the time period to cast early ballots in person has been extended until the weekend before Election Day.

Chicago-area election officials were confident that ballots cast before the presidential election would rival the numbers from four years ago because of the changes and attraction to early voting, where there generally aren’t long lines or substantial wait times.