Illinois voters are months away from a pandemic-delayed primary scheduled for June 28. So, now’s the time to begin preparing for an election that will determine candidates for county, state and some federal offices.
Normally, the Illinois primaries are held in March or April, but the COVID-19 crisis delayed reporting of the census data used to determine new congressional and legislative boundaries, pushing back the timeline for the Election Day. With some added time for decision making, here’s a guide to voting in the primary, which will decide candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, General Assembly, county offices and more for the Nov. 8 general election.
Registering to vote
Registration cards can be found at your local post office, library or county clerk’s office. If you want to register in person, the deadline is May 31. Registering online offers a wider window, with the deadline on June 12. To register online or to check your registration, go to ova.elections.il.gov.
Finding your congressional and legislative districts
For both Congress and General Assembly seats, the best way to find the district you are in, especially since district maps are changing, is to go online to the Illinois Board of Elections website, www.elections.il.gov.
Under the heading “Voter Services,” click on “Find My Elected Officials.” You’ll find a map of Illinois. Click on the map and you’ll see the state with a large white screen to the right. At the top of the white screen, type your address in the window under the words “Find My Elected Representative.” A list of offices will appear, including one called “2022 United States Congressperson.” When you click on this link, you will see the congressional district you are in under the new map. For your state Senate district, click on the link called “2022 Senator,” and for your House district, click on “2022 State Representative.” You will not see any current officials named at these links. To see your current congressmen or legislators, you can click on the appropriate links listed, but remember, it will show you the current officials. They may change under the new maps.
Voting by mail
The first day to file an application for a vote-by-mail ballot is March 30, 2022. Online applications for a mail-in ballot open up on the same day. Your local county clerk’s office must receive your request by June 23 if you wish to vote by mail in the June primary.
Early voting in person
Limited early in-person voting begins at county clerk’s offices and some temporary community locations on May 19. On June 13, early voting expands to permanent locations other than the clerk’s office — such as village halls or similar public sites — and polls must be open on holidays and weekends until early voting ends on June 27.
This article was taken in part from the 1-26-22 Daily Herald newspaper for West-Win members’ benefit.