Chicago inmates: Guards pressing them to vote in tight mayor election without checking eligibility

Inmates in Chicago's central jail are claiming that guards there are pressuring them to vote illegally in the city's mayoral election, a media report claims. 

Prisoners in lockup at Cook County Jail "have claimed they are being pressured to illegally vote in the city's mayoral election," the Daily Mail reported on Tuesday.

One accused murderer, who spoke to the Mail under condition of anonymity, claimed that "21 of the 48 inmates in his Division 11" have already voted, though "none were asked if they were registered or eligible to vote."

"They just say who wants to vote? Line up to vote," the inmate reportedly claimed. 

The mayoral race will decide who controls the city government's executive branch for the next four years. 

Democrat incumbent Lori Lightfoot is running against eight other competitors in the race.