Welcome! On this page you will find a lot of information about issues and candidates that will be on your ballot on April 4, 2023.
We have done our best to make this resource page as non-partisan as possible. Be advised you may use partisan websites listed to determine the viewpoint of candidates. If they are 'for' a topic, they will appear on the list of candidates for that organization or cause, if they are 'against' it they will NOT appear on that list. In any case, you will learn the position of your preferred candidate.
2023 Consolidated Election: April 4, 2023
Dates to know:
· April 4, 2023: Election Day; voter registration available at your voting location
· March 30, 2023: Last day to request a mail ballot
· March 20, 2023 to April 3, 2023: early voting period
· March 19, 2023: deadline to register to vote online
· March 7, 2023: deadline to register to vote by paper application
If you are interested in becoming an election judge to work on election day, you can apply online.
Register to vote online, by mail or in person, including at the library. Find instructions, print a paper application, or identify additional registration locations on this page. You can also register to vote on Election Day at your polling place.
· Your Voter Information: find your polling location, sample ballots for upcoming elections and your elected officials.
· Cook County Find My District: see government districts for your address on a map, and explore district boundary lines.
· Mail Ballots: Any registered suburban Cook County voter may request a mail ballot. The deadline to apply is five days before an election. Learn more about voting by mail here.
· Instructions for how to vote using voting machines in Illinois: Video
· Illinois Board of Elections: Voting Instructions and Assistance
· Election Results: Illinois Board of Elections Unofficial and Official Results.
If you encounter issues while voting, Illinois Legal Aid Online highlights relevant resources.
These sources may list information for past elections. These links will be updated as these sources publish more current information.
· Chicago Sun Times election articles
· Chicago Tribune Election Guide articles
· Daily Herald news, endorsements, profiles
· Journal & Topics election articles
These tools offer information on judicial candidates:
· The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Evaluation (many bar associations' results)
· Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluations
· Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluations
For additional information on candidates and races, some organizations also perform fact checking and publish articles:
· Ballotpedia Illinois: A nonpartisan and nonprofit online encyclopedia of American politics and elections.
· Politifact Illinois: A Pulitzer Prize-winning, fact-checking website.
Follow the Legislative Process
· Follow state law at the Illinois General Assembly and track bills with their Legislative Reports.
· Track federal legislation in both the House of Representatives and Senate at Congress.gov.
· Congressional Research Service Reports from the Library of Congress are now available to the public. These reports examine issues from all perspectives to inform lawmakers throughout the process of drafting, debating, passing and enacting legislation.
Contested Elections-Candidate Forums
Candidate Forums will be hosted by The League of Women Voters of the Palatine Area to help voters make informed choices in the April 4 election. The forums will be recorded and made available on the group's YouTube channel via lwvpalatinearea.org. Register at this address for all forums. The forums include:
• Barrington Area Library trustees candidates (virtual forum), 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 7.
• Barrington Unit School District 220 board candidates (virtual forum), 10:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 11. Area.
• Palatine Township Elementary School District 15 board candidates, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14, at Winston Campus School's multipurpose room, 120 N. Babcock Drive in Palatine.
• Palatine Schaumburg Township High School 211 board candidates, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 15, at Schaumburg Township District Library, Rasmussen Room, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.
• Schaumburg Township District Library board candidates, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 18, Schaumburg Township District Library, Rasmussen North, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.
Archived Candidate Recordings are available for some candidates. Ask your library what, if any, Forums they will be having, have had and are archived for viewing. Your local LWV and/or local media are other good sources.
Archived Candidate Forums at Arlington Heights Memorial Library
View D25 recording: https://bit.ly/2023Forum_D25
View D214 recording: https://bit.ly/2023Forum_D214
End for April 4, 2023 Elections
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This is a looooonnnnggg page with information on ballot issues, candidates, judges, time frames for registerting and voting and rights and 'things you should know about voting in Illinois.
Just keep scrolling until you hit the information you desire.
Thanks for visiting and thanks for VOTING!
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Forest Preserve Referendum - Cook County
On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, residents of Cook County will be asked to increase the tax rate for the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The average annual increase for homeowners would be around $20. The money would be used to acquire more open land, restore the ecology of existing forest preserves, protect wildlife habitat, improve trail systems, increase amenities and programs, and eliminate the pension shortfall for Forest Preserve employees (who do not pay into Social Security). Money would also be given to the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Brookfield Zoo (both of which sit on Forest Preserve land) for capital projects. All entities would be required to report to the public on how the money is being used and what progress is being made towards achieving goals.
Forest Preserve District Referendum….
……to bring more resources to the Forest Preserves.
If approved, new funding would be used to expand and improve the benefits the Forest Preserves for us all and set the Preserves on a sustainable fiscal path.
Money would be spent in the following areas:
* Protect open land
* Restore nature to ecological health
* Give wildlife a home
* Improve a vast trail system
* Better amenities and wider reach
* Jobs for our communities
* Resolve a pension shortfall
* Improvements at the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden
Further information on this issue can be found at the following links:
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Mental Health Board for Wheeling Township
What is the problem?
Mental illness, development disabilities and substance abuse affect a significant number of people in our community. In Wheeling Township, mental illness issues alone conservatively cost $719 per capita or $110,000,000 per year.*
1 in 5 adults experiences a mental illness in a given year.
1 in 6 children have a developmental disability such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Down's syndrome, or other neurological conditions.
1 in 5 youth aged 13-18 experiences a severe mental health disorder at some point during their life.
1 in 10 youth aged 12 and older have used an illicit drug such as heroin, cocaine or marijuana in the last month.
What will passing this referendum mean to you and your family?
Ability to act quickly when families are in crisis.
Comprehensive local support of services targeted to the needs of the local community to ensure that preventative and therapeutic programs are streamlined, accessible, and affordable for all residents in the Township.
Reduce or eliminate gaps in service such as long waiting lists or arbitrary cut-off limits.
Screening for prevention and early detection.
What you can do?
In November of 2022, we have an opportunity to support a small property tax increase to establish a Community Mental Health Board that would ensure that all residents of Wheeling Township have equal access to a high quality, comprehensive care delivery system for people affected by mental illness, addiction, or developmental disabilities.
In Illinois, Community Mental Health Boards are created by a referendum approved by the voters.
The volunteer Board consisting of 7-9 local residents with a vested interest in the community would be appointed by the Wheeling Township Supervisor.
What does it cost?
Under Illinois law, the maximum property tax rate increase for this Board is 0.15% of the property's current assessed value.
The actual rate may be significantly less based on community needs...but never more than 0.15%. For example, to raise $1.5 million dollars for these vital services, the average priced home would pay only $28.36 annually.
Referendum language
Shall Wheeling Township levy an annual tax not to exceed 0.15% for the purpose of providing community mental health facilities and services including facilities and services for the person with a developmental disability or a substance abuse disorder, which levy will have a single additional tax of a maximum of .15% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein extended for such purposes?
YES
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Doesn't Wheeling Township already fund social service programs?
A Yes, the Township currently provides some funding to 23 agencies, which is helpful. However, there are still long wait lists and gaps in
programs.
Q Doesn't the state also provide funding?
A Illinois ranks very low, 43rd in providing services for disabilities. For about the price of a large pizza, $28.36, we can raise enough money to provide needed services with money that stays in our community. The Board doesn't provide the services, but rather helps fund programs through existing agencies to fill gaps. They can help streamline the system to make it easier
Q What can a mental health board fund?
A
Substance abuse programs
Respite for caregivers of children and adults with disabilities
Suicide intervention programs
Employment and vocational training for people with intellectual disabilities
More providers who offer mental health services to those who have I/DD (intellectual/developmental disabilities)
Q How much is this going to cost?
A yearly levy is 0.15%, in order to raise $1.5 million for our community, we only need to levy .026%. On your tax bill, look for the assessed value of your home and multiply by 0.026% to get your yearly increase.
Our township is not alone in advocating for a 708 mental health board. In Cook County, nine mental health boards already exist. Winfield, Vernon, Schaumburg, Naperville, Lisle, and Addison Townships, along with Will County will all have 708 Board referendums on the ballot this November. Programs for mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities have been underfunded for years. It's time to provide a safety net for our community.
Resource Website
14 questions with Mental Health Board for Wheeling Township of Illinoi – Midwest Today
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Amendment One / Workers' Rights Amendment
PROS
This information for the passing of the amendment is from the "Vote Yes for Workers' Rights" organizaton www.workersrights.com
What is the Workers’ Rights Amendment?
The Workers’ Rights Amendment will add language to the Illinois constitution guaranteeing all employees in Illinois the fundamental right to organize and collectively bargain for fair wages, meaningful benefits, and safety at work.
Why you should vote YES:
The Workers’ Rights Amendment protects all Illinoisans, on the job and off. Workers must be able to speak out about dangerous situations without fear of retaliation from their employer. • Nurses need to patient care ahead of profits.
• Firefighters and EMTs must have proper training and equipment to keep all of us safe. • Construction workers must be able to speak out about shoddy or dangerous conditions.
The Workers’ Rights Amendment will help grow our economy and make sure it works for all Illinoisans. • As cost of living increases, workers must be able to join together and negotiate a living wage and meaningful benefits.
• The Workers’ Rights Amendment will increase the number of good-paying jobs available to those without a college degree, giving every Illinoisan access to a comfortable, middle-class life.
By voting yes on the Workers’ Rights Amendment, we can ensure all Illinoisans forever have a voice on the job, so they can have a safe workplace and earn a family-sustaining wage. Workers’ rights must be enshrined in the Illinois constitution.
Why now?
Across the nation, workers’ rights are on the chopping block, and lawmakers have passed legislation to minimize workers’ rights. In these states, working families suffer, making $8,000 less on average compared to other states. This cannot happen in Illinois. Let’s protect workers from anti-worker politicians and special interest groups by guaranteeing workers’ rights in the Illinois constitution – vote YES on the Workers’ Rights Amendment.
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WRA Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Workers’ Rights Amendment? What’s this all about?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment will update the Illinois Constitution to guarantee your right to organize and join together with your coworkers to negotiate for pay raises, better benefits and safer workplaces, putting more money in the pockets of working families while keeping all of our communities safe. The Workers’ Rights Amendment prevents politicians from passing anti-worker l aws that bring down wages and make workplaces less safe in the future.
Q: Who is the Workers’ Rights Amendment for?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment is for every Illinoisan and will create a new standard for constitutional protections for workers’ rights for all workers.
Q: When is the election? Where is the Worker’s Rights Amendment on my ballot?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment will be at the top of your ballot, giving workers the opportunity to vote for themselves first. Election day is November 8, with Early Voting beginning 40 days before election day, September 29.
Q: Who supports the Workers’ Rights Amendment?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment has support from a broad coalition of workers, labor unions, and community groups across the state.
Q: What politicians support the Workers’ Rights Amendment?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment isn’t about politics, it’s about the workers that make Illinois great. The Worker’s Rights Amendment will protect Illinois from special interest groups and anti-worker politicians from both parts that push anti-worker laws that drive down wages and make workplaces less safe.
Q: Does this only apply to public sector workers?
A: No, the Workers’ Rights Amendment protects all Illinois workers in the public and private sectors by guaranteeing their fundamental rights in the workplace in our state constitution.
Q: Doesn’t the federal government control labor policy for private sector workers? How would the Workers’ Rights Amendment help private sector workers?
A: The Workers’ Rights Amendment will update the Illinois Constitution to guarantee your fundamental rights in the workplace, regardless of the industry or sector they work in, protecting the existing rights of millions of workers and creating new protections at the state level for hundreds of thousands of workers not covered by federal policy.
Q: Is this a tax increase?
A: No, there is nothing in the Workers’ Rights Amendment about taxes.
Q: I heard this will raise my property taxes, is that true?
A: This is a lie - politicians are responsible for rising property taxes, not workers. This amendment protects workers’ right to bargain for better pay and benefits, putting more money in the pockets of working families and helping them deal with the rising cost of everything from groceries to gas to their property tax bill.
Q: What about pensions? I heard this will make pension costs go up for Illinois taxpayers.
A: No, this is a lie. Politicians caused the state’s fiscal problems, not workers. This amendment protects workers’ right to bargain for better pay, benefits, and safety conditions and does not affect pensions.
Q: Illinois already has strong labor laws. Why do we need to add them to the constitution?
A: Illinois has always been a workers’ rights state, and the Worker’s Rights Amendment will keep it that way. The Workers’ Rights Amendment will guarantee your fundamental rights in the workplace and protect you from politicians that try to pass anti-worker laws in the future. Voting yes for Workers’ Rights will also protect Illinoisans from future attacks on workers’ rights at the federal level. We’ve already seen unprecedented attacks on our civil rights and liberties, and we know more attacks against workers are coming. That’s why it’s important to vote yes for the Workers’ Rights Amendment to make sure your rights are protected at home in Illinois.
Q: Won’t this mean businesses won’t move to Illinois? Or force businesses that are already in Illinois to leave?
A: No, the Workers' Rights Amendment will invest in our workforce by helping to raise wages and create safer workplaces while giving workers the training and equipment they need to make their workplaces more productive.. Making Illinois more attractive to workers will attract more businesses. No corporations have left, or will leave, Illinois because of this.
Q: Doesn’t this conflict with the Supreme Court’s Janus decision, which allowed free riders to opt out of union dues?
A: No, the Workers’ Rights Amendment doesn’t conflict with the Janus decision, but will prevent politicians from placing arbitrary limits on what emergency responders and other public sector unions can bargain over. As it relates to the private sector, the Workers’ Rights Amendment prevents anti-worker politicians in Illinois from exploiting a loophole in the National Labor Relations Act that has allowed other states to trample on collective bargaining rights among private sector workers.
Q: Isn’t this just a giveaway to big unions that supported Mike Madigan?
A: This amendment holds politicians—Democrats and Republicans— accountable. It stops them from going after workers and means they can’t bargain away workers’ right to come together and negotiate for better safety conditions and fair pay. A vote to yes will hold political machines accountable if they try to mistreat workers.
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CONS
This information against the passing of the amendment is from the Illinois Policy Institute organizaton (This is their link, click on it: Illinois Policy
Why vote no on Amendment 1?
Amendment 1 is a proposed constitutional amendment at the top of the Nov. 8 ballot. Disingenuously touted by union proponents as a “Workers’ Rights Amendment,” Amendment 1is a radical anti-taxpayer amendment that would drive up taxes and cement Illinois’ reputation as one of the worst places to do business. Amendment 1 would do nothing to help the majority of Illinoisans. Instead, it would give government union bosses unchecked power not seen anywhere else in the nation, guaranteeing never-ending property tax hikes.
Amendment 1 would add a provision to the constitution that allows collective bargaining to expand beyond typical negotiations over wages and compensation to potentially include social or political demands. Taxpayers will be forced to fund these broad new provisions through increased property taxes. Amendment 1 guarantees the average Illinois family will pay at least $2,149 more in property taxes, but the amount is likely much higher.
The amendment would elevate government union contracts above state laws, preventing future pro-business or property tax reforms. With businesses and residents continuing to flee the state because of its high taxes and poor business climate, Illinois can’t afford another tax increase, let alone limitless ones under Amendment 1.
No law like Amendment 1 exists in any other state. It is the most extreme labor law in history.
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is voters will have the opportunity to vote on a historic chage at the ballot box on Nov. 8, 2022. Similar to the progressive income tax amendment voters rejected in 2020, AmenVOTING “YES” ACCEPTS THE AMENDMENT VOTING “NO” REJECTS THE AMENDMENT
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF AMENDMENT 1? Workers receive a "fundamental right" to collective bargaining
All government workers would obtain a fundamental right to unionize – including elected officials and potentially prisoners
The right would not apply to non-government workers because the federal government regulates private-sector unionization
Bargaining rights would be expanded well beyond compensation, potentially including subjects ranging from social welfare to political activities.
Amendment 1 guarantees a $2,100 property tax hike
The amendment would expand bargaining to include broad new subjects, making this a tax increase in disguise as taxpayers are forced to fund a wide range of new demands Based on a conservative estimate, property taxes for an average household would go up $2,149 during the next four years. The increase could turn out to be significantly higher, but just how high is hard to predict because no other state has such extreme labor laws.
The amendment would prohibit lawmakers, as representatives of the people, from enacting reforms that could help cut costs, driving up the need for higher taxes.
Amendment 1 would solidify Illinois' reputation as one of the worst states in the nation for businesses
Businesses leaving the state have cited Illinois’ poor business climate and high taxes. Illinois saw the second largest decline in business tax climate ranking in the nation since 2017, according to the Tax Foundation's Business Tax Climate Index
The state would be prohibited from enacting pro-business laws that attract new companies The current exodus of jobs would get worse and the economy would suffer
Amendment 1 would allow union leaders to override more than 350 existing Illinois laws
Government union contracts would be elevated to the level of the state constitution Contract provisions would void contradictory state and local laws
At least 38 provisions in the School Code and 11 provisions in the Children and Family Services Act could be contradicted through contracts under Amendment 1, including measures to protect children’s safety.this been tried anywhere else?
No state constitution provides a “fundamental right” to unionize and bargain No state constitution allows government union contracts to Who supports Amendment 1? Who opposes Amendment 1?
Who supports Amendment 1?
AFSCME Council 31
Chicago Teachers Union
Illinois AFL-CIO
Illinois Federation of
Teachers
Illinois Pipe Trades Association
SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana
Teamsters Joint Council 25
Who opposes Amendment 1?
Associated Builders & Contractors
Illinois Association of School Boards
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Manufacturers' Association
Illinois Municipal League
National Federation of Independent Business
Technology and Manufacturing Association
Resource Websites
Proposed Amendment to the Illinois Constitution - English (ilsos.gov) from the Secretary of State’s Office
Workers’ Rights Amendment to Illinois’ Constitution | III FFC
Illinois Amendment 1, Right to Collective Bargaining Measure (2022) - Ballotpedia
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Information on Candidates
1. A good place to go for information on candidates is League of Women Voters of Illinois, LWV-IL (illinoisvoterguide.org)
2. WTTW has a Voter Guide, but it is only for the primary this summer. However,the candidates who won the primaries and now are in the General Election are on there, so you can find some information. Go to 2022 Voter Guide | Chicago News | WTTW
3. Ballotpedia United States Congress elections, 2022 - Ballotpedia has some information on candidates, especially if they have been elected to office before.
4. There are numerous organizations that take a stance one way or the other in certain issues; these would be partisan, but if you are interested you could look at what advocates on a certain issue of interest to you say about the candidates. For example, see where candidates stand on womens' reproductive rights at 2022 Endorsements PDF (plannedparenthoodaction.org)
Just a note: The organizations above look to a number of sources to get information on candidates. However, when candidates do not respond to information requests by these organizations, this can severely limit information on some candidates.
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Judicial Recommendations Websites: Cook County and Lake County
There are a lot of judges on the ballot in Illinois, and most of us know nothing about them. It is hard to make an informed choice. Fortunately, for those of us living in Cook County, there are a few places you can go to get some help.
But first, you need to know which judges are on your ballot. To find that information, go to cookcountyclerkil.gov, then elections, then what is on my upcoming ballot. Once you enter your name and address, you will get a sample ballot with all the names of the judgesyou are voting for.
1. Illinois State Bar Association (isba.org). On the website, scroll down to “Election Day is November 8: You Be the Judge”. When you click on that you will get to the ISBA’s judicial recommendations. There are few choices under 2022 General Election. Some are Cook County only while others give information on all other areas of Illinois.
2. Alliance of Bar Associations (voteforjudges.org). There are a number of specific Bar associations in Cook County. This one consolidates those associations and gives you their ratings/recommendations. This site also lists other places to find information on judges, and has a FAQ section Judicial Elections.
3. InjusticeWatch (injusticewatch.org). This site itself is not strictly bipartisan; however, the judicial evaluations are. This site offers an easy, consolidated look at the ratings/recommendations of the two sites listed above. It also has a bit of dialogue about candidates, as well as an account of the campaign contributions to a judicial candidate. The site itself does not make recommendations. From the main page, in the drop down menu, click on Judicial Election Guide. Once there, you will enter your address to get a listing of the judges appearing on your ballot.
If you live in Lake County, two helpful sites are:
- The Illinois Bar Association, above, and
- The Lake County Bar Association (www.lakebar.org). From the drop down menu, choose Judicial Ratings.
Additional Information:
In Illinois, judges are designated with a party when they are first standing for election to that judicial office, and will win the position by getting the majority of votes cast. Once they have been elected, when their term is ending, they can file that they are standing for re-election. This is called retention. Most of the judges on the ballot are retention candidates for which a voter must vote either ‘yes” or “no”. Retention candidates are not designated by party affiliation. For a judge to be retained, he or she must receive
"yes" votes of at least 3/5 (60%) of all votes cast for that candidate.
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Voter Guide November 8, 2022
Suburban Cook County
Who can vote? You are eligible to be a voter in Illinois if:
You are a U.S. citizen
You are at least 18 by Election Day (November 8, 2022)
You are a permanent resident of your voting precinct for at least 30 days prior to Election Day
You are not in confinement in prison on a conviction of a crime and
You do not claim the right to vote somewhere else.
Registering to Vote. You can register as early as age 17 if you are at least 17 by the primary election and will be 18 by Election Day. You have three ways to register to vote:
In person: You can register in person at: any Cook County clerk’s locations (all in the city), village, city, or township clerk’s office, some public libraries, and Driver’s License facilities if you are there to get license/ID or update them. You will need two pieces of ID, one which shows your current address. See list below. The last day to register in person is October 11. There is also a grace period for in person registration. You can register to vote and then vote the same day either at County Clerk’s office in Chicago (69 W. Washington) from October 12 or at any early voting site October 24 until November 7. You can register in person on election day, but you must register and vote in the polling place for your voting precinct only.
On Line: If you have an Illinois License or ID, you can register on line at the Illinois Board of Elections (election.il.gov) or at Cook County Clerk (cookcountyclerkil.gov; then “elections”). You will also need the last 4 digits of your SS#. The last day to register online is October 23.
By Mail: you can download a printable form online at cookcountyclerkil.gov, then “Elections”. If you have an Illinois license or ID, you can write that number on the form and use it as your identification. If you do not have one of these, you will have to show up in person and bring one form of ID before you will be allowed to vote. A list of acceptable ID documents is listed below. You can send copies of them with your mail application, or bring them with you when you show up to vote. Your mail registration form must be postmarked by October 11.
Acceptable ID:
Passport or Military ID
Driver's License or State ID card
College/University/School/Work ID
Vehicle registration card
Lease, mortgage or deed to home
Credit or debit card
Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
Insurance card
Civic, union or professional membership card
LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
Illinois FOID card
Examples of first-class mail addressed to voter that can be used as ID:
Bill, Transcript or Report Card from School
Bank Statement, Pay Stub or Pension Statement
Utility, Medical or Insurance Bill
Official mail from any government agency
What’s on Your Ballot? So, now you are a registered voter. How do you find out what you will be voting for? Best place to go is cookcountyclerkil.gov.
From home page, click on “Elections”, then “Your Voter Information”. You will be asked to fill in your address and your last name, and you will be able to see your sample ballot.
Under Voter Information, you can also find where your early voting site is, and where your election day polling place is. (If you are registering on Election Day, you can use the find my polling place address fill-in to locate where you will register and vote.)
Ways to Vote: In Illinois, you have three ways to vote:
Election Day voting: November 8; takes place at your designated polling place. Hours are 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, usually. If you are in line by 7:00 pm, you must be allowed to vote. You do not have to present ID: you will be verified via you signature.
Vote By Mail: You can request a Mail In Ballot online. You will need an IL Driver’s License or State ID, the last four digits of your SS#, your address where you want the ballot to be mailed, and an email address. You can also download a paper form mail in ballot application. Both of these applications are available at cookcountyclerkil.org. under “Elections”; “Ways to Vote”.
Applications for vote by mail must be completed on line or postmarked by November 3
Mail in Ballots are sent out beginning Sept. 29. Once you have received and completed your ballot, it must be postmarked by November 8
A Mail-in ballot may also be dropped in a secure Drop Box. Drop Boxes will be available at all early voting locations, October 24 through November 7, 9am-4pm.
New this year: when you apply for Vote By Mail, you can choose Permanent Vote By Mail, and mail ballots will be sent to you for every subsequent election, unless you stop this option.
Early Voting: Early Voting for Suburban Cook County will be at designated Early Voting Sites. The sites can be found at: cookcountyclerkil.org, “Elections”, “Early Voting”, “Early Voting Locations”. You may cast a ballot at any Early Voting Location. You may vote early October 24-November 7. You can also vote early in Chicago at Cook County Clerk sites from October 12 – November 7.
You are not required to show an ID to vote early, but it is a good idea to have one with you to help speed up the process.
Helpful Hints:
Once you are registered as discussed above, you do not have to show any form of ID in order to vote.. It is helpful to have ID with you, however. Why? If, in the opinion of the Election Judge, your signature does not match well enough to the one on file, they will request ID to verify you are the registered voter. Also, poll watchers for candidates, political parties, civic organizations, and both sides of a proposition on the ballot can challenge a voter if they think the voter is not qualified to vote in that precinct.
In Illinois, as noted above, people convicted of a crime who have served their sentences are allowed to vote. Illinois also allows people in jail awaiting trial to vote, since at that point their incarceration is not due to a conviction and subsequent sentence.
It is a good idea, in a few months before an election, to check your registrations status. In Cook County, it should say “Active”. If it does not, then you will need to go to County Clerk’s office and show ID to verify your identification and address.
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11 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING
Time Off from Work: You may request up to two hours off from work to go and vote if your work schedule prevents you from getting to the polls while they are open.
Voting at Closing Time: You may vote after the polls close at 7:00 p.m. on election day. if you are in line before the polls close, you have the right to vote.
Identification: Although it is unusual, you may need to provide one or two ID’s in order to vote at the polls. Some potential reasons you may be asked for identification are: (1) you missed the registration deadline, (2) you changed your name or address, or (3) your signature does not seem to match the signature on file. (Among the acceptable ID’s are passports; driver’s licenses or state ID’s, ID’s from school or work; vehicle registration cards; Social Security,Medicare, or Medicaid cards; debit or credit cards.
Provisional Ballots: If your registration cannot be verified at the polls, you can request a provisional ballot. Your provisional ballot will be sent to the county clerk’s office to review your voter registration and, after verification, to count your vote before the county officially issues the election results.
Replacement Ballots: If you make a mistake or change your mind about your vote before placing your ballot in the ballot box, you may request a new ballot.
Using Written Voting Plans at the Polls: You may bring a list of your intended candidates, newspaper endorsements, or sample ballots into the voting booth; but you need to take the plans with you when you finish voting.
Skipping a vote (abstaining from voting) for a specific governmental position: You are not required to vote for any of the competing candidates. If a ballot counter points out your omission, you may verify that omission. Your votes for all other positions will be counted.
Write-In Votes: Prospective candidates, even potential write-in candidates, must file paperwork with the county clerk or another designated election authority. Each precinct will receive a list of authorized write-in candidates. Only votes for authorized candidates are counted. You may vote for an authorized write-in candidate either on a paper ballot or on a touch screen.
Election Judges: The judges are the sole authority in the polling place; and they are also the people who greet voters, check them in, and instruct them on voting. They are the only people who may:
Handle or touch election supplies and materials
Set up and break down voting equipment
Help voters resolve voting problems
Request law-enforcement assistance if needed
Reporting Unacceptable Voting Behavior to Judges: You may observe and report to election judges the following behaviors:
Appearing to influence voting closer than 100 feet from the voting location or within the same building as the voting
Wearing campaign buttons, badges, t-shirts, or hats
Passing out leaflets or engaging in other campaigning at a distance closer than 100 feet from voting or within the same building as the voting
Intimidating voters with pressure or harassment
Violating election laws (such as paying a voter or leaving the polling place with a ballot)
Poll Watchers are official, credentialed election observers who notify judges if they observe improper behavior.
They have no supervisory role
They may not touch election materials or equipment
They may not escort voters to voting booths
They may not discuss politics or candidates with voters