Whether you’ve just gotten to campus and decided to register in Illinois, or if you’re an experienced Hyde Park voter, The Maroon is here to help you cast your vote during these unprecedented times. If you’ll be voting in a different state, you can find more information here.
If you want to get a rundown of politics in Chicago and Illinois, check out this year’s Local Politics explainer!
Registering to Vote
To register to vote in the November 3 General Election, you must
- be a U.S. citizen;
- be 18 by the general election on November 3, 2020;
- live in your precinct for 30 days prior to the election;
- not be in jail or prison.
You can register to vote in Illinois online, by mail, or in person. If you’re not sure whether you are registered, you can check your registration here.
Online voter registration closes October 18. Applications to register by mail need to be postmarked by October 6 to the Chicago Board of Elections Commission. You can also register in person during the early voting period (more info below) or on the day of the election.
In order to register to vote in person, you will need to provide two forms of identification. Acceptable forms of identification can be found here.
If you need to change the name or address you are registered under, that can also be done online here (look up your old registration first) or in person at a voting location. If you need to update the signature on your voter registration, that can be done by filling out this form and either mail it or email it to registration@chicagoelections.gov.
Voting by Mail
If you decide to vote by mail, you must apply for a ballot by October 29 and postmark it by November 3. All early-voting locations will have secured drop boxes that you can drop your ballot off at in its signed and sealed ballot return envelope.
If you are voting by mail in the two weeks before November 3, it is recommended that you use the secured drop boxes as opposed to postmarking your ballot.
Early Voting
Early voting opens September 24 and runs through November 2. You can make a trip to the Loop Super Site at Clark & Lake – 191 North Clark Street, or if you live on campus, your early voting locations are as follows:
- Snell-Hitchcock, Max Pavelsky, International House, and Campus North: Ray Elementary School, 5631 South Kimbark Avenue;
- Renee Granville-Grossman, Burton-Judson, Woodlawn Commons: Dulles Elementary School, 6311 South Calumet Avenue.
If you live off campus, you can refer to this list of early polling locations, or look up your polling location here.
Voting on November 3
It is recommended that you exercise the options of mailing in your ballot and early voting instead of voting in person on Election Day. However, if you find yourself needing to cast your vote on November 3, the polling locations if you live on campus are as follows:
- Snell-Hitchcock, Max Pavelsky and Campus North: Ray School, 5631 South Kimbark Avenue;
- Renee Granville-Grossman, Burton-Judson, Woodlawn Commons: Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1210 East 62nd Street;
- International House: The Cloisters, 5801 South Dorchester Avenue.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you live off campus, you can refer to this list of Election Day polling locations if you know the precinct you live in, or look up your polling location here.
Update 09/29/2020: The polling locations for Woodlawn Residential Commons have been specified.
