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Important Ballot Issues
Positions on this midterm ballot include...
- US Senator
- Democrat Tammy Dumworth
- Republican Kathi Salvi
- Libertarian Bill Redpath
- US Representatives for 1st-9th districts
- Attorney General
- Democrat Kwame Raoul
- Republican Thomas G. DeVore
- Libertarian Daniel K. Robin
- Governor + Lieutenant Governor
- Democrats JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton (for re-election)
- Republicans Darren Bailey and Stephanie Trussell
- Libertarians Scott Schluter and John Phillips
- Check out the full list of candidates
Amendment 1 is also on the ballot.
- AKA "Illinois Right to Collective Bargaining Measure" (Worker’s Rights Amendment).
- If passed, this amendment would create a state constitutional right for employees to organize and bargain collectively to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions to promote their economic welfare and safety at work.
- This amendment would bar laws that interfere with or negate these collective bargaining agreements.
- Yet, some citizens are worried this amendment will prove to be a state-wide tax hike. It's important to do research before heading to the polls!
Cook County Referenda
- “Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife Habitat Protection One-Year Limiting Rate Increase”
- This referendum is aimed towards increasing the extendable tax limiting rate for the purpose of, “conserving and restoring land to good health, protecting the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, providing natural flood water storage, protecting wildlife habitat, protecting forests to improve air quality, improving and maintaining existing forest preserves and trails of said District, and other lawful purposes of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
- Several referenda and local decisions are also on the midterm ballot--
- “Establishing a West Town and Humboldt Park Mental Health Services Program Area”
- “Reopening Mental Health Centers W20”
- “Supporting a Lakeview Dog Park”
- ... and several more.
Voter Registration
Many Illinois citizens are already registered to vote in the upcoming midterm election. Check the status of your voter registration here.
Illinois residents may register...
- Online
- (The registration period for the online voter registration system will close at 11:59pm on Oct 23, 2022 and will reopen after elections on Nov 10, 2022).
- In person at the office of the election authority.
- At driver's license facilities.
- With deputy registrars who are appointed in each jurisdiction.
- Additionally, Illinois allows residents to register to vote on Election Day when casting in-person ballots.
In order to vote, residents must be...
- 18 years old or older on the next election day.
- Residing in the jurisdiction for 30 days prior to the election.
- A U.S. citizen.
- Not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.
- May not claim the right to vote anywhere else.
- More information can be found in the Illinois Registering to Vote document.
- Citizens residing overseas + military personnel may register through postcard on the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.
- For further information, citizens can consult the Military and Overseas Voter Guidelines.
Early Voting
- Anyone registered to vote can cast their vote early between October 7 - November 7
- In-person early voting requests must be placed by Wednesday, November 2
- The Chicago Board of Elections Office and the Chicago Board of Elections Supersite will both be open the entire 30 days before the election.
- All voting sites in the city will be open for early voting by October 24, although some sites may be opened sooner.
- Find an early voting location near you.
Voting Absentee
- If you know you won’t be in town on Election Day, don’t worry! Chicagoans can cast an absentee vote by filling out an absentee ballot and either dropping it off or mailing it to their county’s election office.
- All absentee requests must be received by Oct 29.
Volunteering As a Poll Worker
- Cook County is currently facing a critical shortage of election workers.
- Election judges make $230 and election coordinators make up to $450 for Election Day.
Voter turnout in midterm elections is traditionally low, so it’s important for voters to show up in whatever way they can to make their voices heard this Election Day.