Politics & Government
Patch's 2020 Illinois Primary Voters Guide For Cook County
Everything you need to know to vote in the March 17 Illinois primary, including online registration, early voting, candidate guides and more
COOK COUNTY, IL -- Are you voting early or do you love the excitement of voting on Election Day? Can you still register to vote? How do you vote by mail? Patch has compiled helpful links and info for the upcoming Illinois presidential primary on March 17, 2020.
Candidates are vying for their party's nominations for the midterm election in November.
Up for grabs are party nominations for the U.S. Senate, congressional primaries, Illinois state legislature, judicial posts, Cook County seats, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and others.
Voters will be asked select a specific party ballot -- Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian -- to choose the candidate to represent that party in the general election this November.
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Early voting is now underway. Early voting locations through Cook County will be open through March 16. Voters do not need to give a reason why they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day.
Grace Period Registration and Voting
Grace period registration and voting extends the registration period by allowing voters to register and vote through the March 17 election. Voters may register to vote during the grace period at any Cook County early voting location, but must cast their vote immediately upon registration. Two pieces of identification area required to register. Early voting started March 2. A full list of early voting sites for Cook County suburban residents is available on the county clerk's website. A list of early voting sites for Chicago residents is available on the Chicago Board of Elections website. Both websites offer information about what forms of identification are accepted.
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Election Day Registration and Voting
Voters who are not registered to vote can register and vote at their home precinct only.
Voters planning on registering to vote or updating their address on election day must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address.
No ID is needed when: The voter is already registered at the voter’s current address and is voting in the correct precinct; the signature appears to match the voter signature on file. Election Judges do not challenge the person’s right to vote.
Vote By Mail/Absentee Voting
Any registered suburban Cook County voter may request a mail ballot using the clerk’s online application. Once the clerk verifies your registration and process your application, a paper ballot will be sent to the mailing address designated on the voter’s application. The deadline to apply is five days before an election (March 12).
Suburban Cook County registered voters can also download a vote-by-mail application from the clerk’s website. Ballots are available in six languages.
Chicago registered voters can visit the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to apply for a vote-by-mail election.
Voter Information Tool
Suburban voters can use the Cook County Clerk's "Your Voter Information Tool" to find out who's on their ballot, registration status, early polling place, and election day polling place. Voters can search for their proper polling place and sample ballot via address or birthday.
Chicago voters can find their polling place and sample ballot on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website.
Candidate Guides
The League of Women Voters of Illinois has compiled a non-partisan candidate's guide to the upcoming March 17 primary. This guide includes candidate bios, stances and endorsements.
The BGA (Better Government Association) has also compiled a voters guide for the primary. Candidates running for contested state and Cook County-wide offices in the 2020 primary completed questionnaires on how they would improve and expand government accountability, efficiency and transparency for the residents they serve.
Cook County Judges
Vote judiciously for judges. Many bar groups provide non-partisan guides and research-based evaluations. Voters are permitted to bring newspaper endorsements, printouts, sample ballots and smart phones into the voting booth to view judicial evaluations.
>>> Election 2020: How To Vote For Judges In The Illinois Primary
More Resources
Sources: Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and Chicago Board of Election Commissioners
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