CHICAGO’S RUN-OFF ELECTIONS ARE TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH

Once again, it’s runoff season again in Chicago. Out of  over 170 alder people and 9 mayoral candidates, 18 alder people and 2 mayoral candidates remain.  A runoff election happens when the the Municipal Election, that happened on February 28, istoo close to call. As with any local election, the outcomes of these run-offs will have a significant impact on you and Chicago. Some of the biggest talking points from candidates throughout this election cycle revolved around public safety, city planning, city taxes, and education. But the good news is, everything will be decided on Tuesday, April 4, in a special run-off election. This is your chance to make an impact and have your voice heard.

With that being said, not all of us are participating. :/  Only 2% of total votes in this last election came from 18-24 year olds. This represents a significant opportunity for young voters in Chicago to make an impact in the runoff elections. SocialWorks is committed to educating young Chicagoans on the many ways they can impact their community. So, below is information on an event March 31st, that will help you vote, but if you can’t make it we’ve assembled a list of resources and tools to help increase participation and engagement from the youngest demographic of voters in Chicago.

Get Out the Vote (GOTV)

If you’re interested in voting, want to vote, or feel lost in the process, come to the event and we’ll help you out! We’ll help you get a State ID, register you to vote, and get you to the polls for free.

The first 100 enter a raffle for free merch and there will be meet and greet opportunities with Joey Purp, Jean Deaux, and more! 

Register to Vote in Chicago 

First, check to see if you are already registered to vote. Fill out this brief form to see if you are good to go or if you still need to register.

https://chicagoelections.gov/en/your-voter-information.html

You will need to be registered in order to cast your ballot, but the good news is you can register up to and on voting day itself. Make sure you bring two forms of ID, with at least one of them showing your present address.

The following are acceptable forms of ID to register:

Accepted Forms of ID for voting in Chicago

– Passport or Military ID
– Driver’s License or State ID card
– College/University/School/Work ID
– Vehicle registration card
– Lease, mortgage or deed to home
– Credit or debit card
– Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
– Insurance card
– Civic, union or professional membership card
– LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
– Illinois FOID card

Examples of mail addressed to voter that can be used as ID:

– Bill, Transcript or Report Card from School
– Bank Statement, Pay Stub or Pension Statement
– Utility, Medical or Insurance Bill
– Official mail from any government agency

Here is more information regarding ID requirements:
https://chicagoelections.gov/en/when-you-need-id-to-vote.html

Once you are registered to vote, there are three ways to cast your ballot.
1. Vote by mail
2. Early Voting
3. Voting on Election Day

Voting by Mail in Chicago

Registered voters may choose to avoid the polls on election day by exercising their right to vote by mail. You don’t need any special qualifications to do so, though you do need to apply to vote by mail by MARCH 30. Once you complete your ballot, you can mail it back to the city (postage is included!), deliver it to the Election Board by hand, or bring it to a dropbox near you at any point before the polls close on April 4. Ballots not received by April 4th will be counted, provided that the postmark on the envelope indicates the ballot was mailed by April 4th.

Apply to vote by mail here:
https://www.chicagoelections.gov/en/vote-by-mail-application.html

More information on voting by mail:
https://chicagoelections.gov/en/vote-by-mail.html

List of Dropbox locations in Chicago
https://www.chicagoelections.gov/en/drop-boxes.html

Early Voting in Chicago

Beginning on March 20, all neighborhood and downtown polling sites will accept early voting. Early voting locations open at 9am and will accept ballots until 6pm each day Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

List of early voting sites in Chicago:
https://chicagoelections.gov/en/early-voting.html

Voting on Election Day in Chicago
The final option for voting in this election is voting at your designated polling place, or any of the early voting locations we linked to above. All polling places are open from 6am to 7pm on Tuesday, April 4th. You can find your designated polling place by submitting this form.
https://chicagoelections.gov/en/your-voter-information.html

Educate Yourself

The most powerful way youth can make their impact on the city and community is to stay informed and use that knowledge to vote for the candidates that align with the issues that matter most to them. There are several voter guides that highlight all of the candidates and where they stand on the issues that matter most to voters. These are non-biased guides that present the facts in order for voters in Chicago to make an informed decision.

Here are a few of the voter guides to help you decide who to vote for on April 4th.
https://blockclubchicago.org/elections/
https://illinoisvoterguide.org/
https://elections.suntimes.com/
https://www.ballotready.org/

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

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