By Brielle Conwell
@redlineproject
The Illinois midterm general election is approaching Nov. 8 and the people of Chicago are preparing to cast their votes.
There are many polling locations throughout each of Chicago’s 50 aldermanic wards. All polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Chicago residents can view their voter information and locate the correct precinct polling locations at the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners website. All eligible Chicago voters are encouraged to enter the polls on election day, including those who need to register to vote for the first time, file a change of address or file a change of name.
In order to register to vote one must:
- be a U.S. citizen,
- have a birthday before November 8, 2004
- lived in their current precinct longer than 30 days
- Is not claiming the right to vote anywhere else
- is not currently serving time in prison/jail
Two valid forms of identification are also required at the time of voter registration.
Early voting for the election is available as of Oct. 7 and will continue until election day. The Chicago Board of Elections Supersite and the Chicago Board of Elections Office are open for early voting from Oct. 7 through Nov. 7. All 50 ward early voting sites will be open from Oct. 24 until election day. Chicago residents can view early voting sites’ hours and locations at the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners website.
Chicago residents also have the option to vote by mail for the general election. Voters can apply to vote by mail online at the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website and applications will be accepted through Nov. 3. Upon receiving their ballots in the mail, Chicago residents are to fill it out following the instructions and return it in the signed and sealed ballot return envelope to the Chicago Board of Elections. Any mail-in ballots that are postmarked after the election date on Nov. 9 or later will not be counted.
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