'They can't see who I'm voting for can they?' Obama jokes as he early votes in Chicago (presumably for Hillary)

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President Barack Obama fulfilled his civic duty on Friday and cast his ballot in the presidential election.

'They can't see who I'm voting for can they?' he teased as reporters traveling with him looked on.

Obama grinned at the press as they asked him to reveal his vote. 

The Democratic president endorsed Hillary Clinton in June and has campaigned with and for her. He's a fierce critic of Republican nominee Donald Trump, whom he says has 'wacky' ideas. 

Trump was a major proponent of the birther movement. The businessman refused to affirm the president's Hawaiian birth until last month.

President Barack Obama fulfilled his civic duty on Friday and cast his ballot in the presidential election. 'They can't see who I'm voting for can they?' he teased as reporters traveling with him looked on

The Democratic president endorsed Hillary Clinton in June and has campaigned with and for her. He's a fierce critic of Republican nominee Donald Trump, whom he says has 'wacky' ideas

Obama wouldn't tell the press whom it was that he voted for - giving them a grin instead

'You guys are doing a wonderful job. Appreciate ya,' Obama told poll workers as he filled out his paperwork

Passersby try to catch a glimpse Obama as they wait for him to depart the Cook County Office Building in Chicago, Illinois, today after he cast his ballot

Obama left Washington for Chicago this morning with the intention of early voting.

He's fundraising for Clinton, House Democrats and Illinois Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth while he's there.

The president indicated to reporters this morning that he was likely to take advantage of early voting while he was in his hometown.

'I'm not going to the precinct. I'll probably do early vote,' he said. 'I'll fill out my form. Don't worry - I'll be voting.' 

A spokesman for the president later said: 'I do know that Illinois is a state that enjoys early vote. That's an option that the president has availed himself of previously. 

'So if he decides to do that on this trip, we'll make sure you guys tag along.'  

After his first fundraiser of the day Obama stopped by Chicago's Board of Elections Office and made it official.

'You guys are doing a wonderful job. Appreciate ya,' he told poll workers.

Filling out the paperwork, Obama said, 'What's my date of birth? 8-4-81?'

'Nice try!' an election official told him. The 55-year-old president, born on that day in 1961, said he was 'Shaving just a couple of decades off.'

Obama left Washington this morning to travel to Chicago to cast his vote for Clinton in the presidential election

ENTOURAGE: President Barack Obama is joined on the trip by Valerie Jarrett, left, Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz, Obama's right, personal aide Joe Paulsen and photographer Pete Souza, far right

BYE! In Chicago Obama's fundraising for Clinton, House Democrats and Illinois Senate candidate Tammy Duckworth

Obama was flying to Chicago on Friday morning after a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate.

His departure came as Hurricane Matthew was fast-approaching the East Coast.

Obama declared a state of emergency in Florida, which will be swept with rains today, and Georgia and South Carolina, states that will be hit by the Category 3 storm on Saturday.

Officials downgraded the storm overnight, but Obama warned residents of the three states, 'This is still a really dangerous hurricane.'

Storm surge flooding and loss of life are still possible, he said, urging residents of those areas to take precautions.

Less than 45 minutes later he boarded Marine One for a weekend of fundraising in hometown. 

Obama was flying to Chicago on Friday morning after a meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate

This afternoon Obama lunched with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and contributors to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on the North Side of Chicago at the home of mega-donor Fred Eychaner.

Eychaner is the chairman of Newsweb Corporation. Obama in 2010 named him to the board of Washington, DC's Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that tickets to that event were in the range of $66,800 per couple to $10,000 an individual.

An 'intimate roundtable' at the home of Hyatt hotel heir and Clinton financier J.B. Pritzker, the brother of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, was organized by the Democratic National Committee and will benefit the presidential nominee's joint fundraising account with the national party.

Entry to that event was a cool $33,400 for the approximated 30 attendees. The hosts contributed or raised $100,000, a Clinton campaign aide said Friday afternoon.

Reporters were allowed to record Obama's remarks at the DCCC event. In keeping with the Clinton campaign's precedent of keeping reporters out of private fundraising events, the DNC roundtable will be closed to press.

Obama talks with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel after walking off Air Force One while arriving at O'Hare International Airport

Emanuel was Obama's chief of staff at the White House before he ran for and won the Chicago mayor's race

The president will continue the fundraising swing on Sunday in Chicago at an event for Congresswoman Duckworth at the Stony Island Arts Bank. 

A close friend of Obama's, Martin Nesbitt, chair of the Obama Foundation, and his wife, Anita Blanchard, a physician, are hosting the decidedly less swanky event alongside Democratic activist and Willis Group Holdings managing partner John Atkinson and his wife, Bonnie.

University of Chicago professor Theaster Gates is also a sponsor. Gates founded the arts center the event is being held at and is on the design advisory committee for Obama's library.

Tickets start at $1,000 a person. The VIP package, for top fundraisers and donors, includes a special reception and a photo with the president. 

Proceeds from the Sunday event will be directed to Duckwork's joint fundraising committee with the Democratic Party of Illinois, the Sun-Times writes.

Obama has at least two more campaign events on the books next week - rallies for Clinton in North Carolina and Ohio.

The outgoing president will be in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening and Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, where he'll headline a 'Get Out the Early Vote' event, Clinton's campaign advises.

Thursday evening he's helping the state's Democratic Party earn funds at a dinner in Columbus.