The Illinois primary is on March 17. It will determine each party's nominees. Be sure to talk to the young people in your life about the issues that matter to them this election cycle, and cast a ballot for their future. Here's what you need to know before you cast your ballots next month.
Am I registered to vote?
If you are unsure about whether you are registered, you can visit the Illinois Voter Registration Lookup to determine your voter registration status.
How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote online, by mail, or in person. Although the deadline to register by mail has already passed, there is still time to register online or in-person! To get started with online registration, visit VOTE411 here.
Registration Deadlines:
When does early voting start?
Early voting opens for Chicago residents on February 19 at the Loop Super Site at 191 N. Clark St., which will be the only location for early voting until March 2. From then until March 16, Chicago will have 52 sites.
Between March 11-13, several Chicago universities will also offer early voting:
What kind of identification do I need to bring to the polls?
If you're already registered to vote and show up to vote at the correct precinct, no ID is needed. If an election judge challenges your right to vote or if you submitted a mail-in registration form that did not have an associated Illinois ID, you'll need to provide a driver's license number or Social Security number.
If you're registering in-person after the March 1 deadline, you'll need two of the following forms of ID:
How do I find my polling place?
You can access your polling place by visiting VOTE411’s Illinois voting page. Scroll to "Find Your Polling Place" and click "Learn More." You will then be prompted to enter your address, and VOTE411 will provide you with your voting location and an interactive map of how to get there.
Can I vote for either party?
Illinois has open primaries, so you’ll be able to vote in any party’s election. However, you’ll need to declare your affiliation at the polling place before being able to vote in a party’s primary.
What positions are being voted upon in the 2020 Illinois primary?
This year, Illinois voters will nominate their party’s candidates for president of the United States, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, the Illinois Supreme Court, State Senate, State House, Cook County State’s Attorney, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner, and the Cook County Board of Review.
How can I be an informed voter?
We recommend BallotReady, a nonpartisan resource for learning more about candidates at the national, state, and local levels. Simply enter your address, and the website will provide you with a breakdown of each candidate’s education, experience, and policies.
Happy voting! Change starts with you.