Obama returns to homestate to cast his ballot

President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to participate in early voting Thursday, casting his ballot Thursday afternoon at a community center in Chicago, Illinois.

The president has traveled to swing states across the country this week encouraging supporters to vote early.

"It means you don't have to figure out whether you need to take time off work, figure out how to pick up the kids and still cast your ballot," Obama said. "If something happens on Election Day, you will already have taken care of it. If it's bad weather you won't get wet, or in Chicago, snowy."

When Obama arrived at the polling station, he was asked to show identification and he provided it. "Notice there's no grey in that picture," he told the poll worker when he showed his drivers license.

After he finished casting his ballot, Obama said: "For all of you who have not yet early voted, I just wanted you to see how efficient a process this was."

During speeches on the campaign trail before voting, Obama often joked that he wouldn't reveal whom he planned to support. He wouldn't dish after he voted, either.

"I can't tell you who I voted for," he said.

From Chicago, the president plans to travel to Cleveland, Ohio for an evening rally at the airport to conclude a two-day whirlwind tour of six swing-states.