Useful Voter Info - Upcoming Elections
I remember the excitement when I registered to vote back in the 1994. My birthday falls at the end of November so I was not able to vote in that first election, and the presidential election wasn't for another couple of years so I didn't really put much thought into voting. I had moved to Illinois from Arkansas in 1991 and I was not happy when Bill Clinton was elected in 1992. I was 16 and very disappointed that I was going to have to listen to that raspy, annoying voice even though I had moved over 800 miles away. Fast forward to November 1996, I was almost 20 and I couldn't wait to cast my vote for anyone other than Clinton in my very first presidential election. When I got that ballot I was stunned to see this scan-tron similar to those I had taken so many tests on in high school (only much bigger). It was filled with all of these names I had never heard of before and referendums I was not aware of. I felt like I was in my worst nightmare (you know the one where you get a pop quiz on something you hadn't studied for?). It was at that very moment I came to the realization there is so much more to voting than I had imagined.
We've all seen in recent years the turmoil surrounding presidential elections. I've personally seen arguments over who a person's presidential candidate of choice breaking relationships between life-long friends and family. I even have friends who have to have separate gatherings or select who they are/are not inviting to an event just to make sure they are not creating an uncomfortable situation at a child's birthday party. When people ask me if I'm a Republican or Democrat, I deflect by saying I focus on my local elections and by the time I am done, my ballot tends to be "purple" rather than "red" or "blue".
It is nearly impossible to escape the headlines that focus on the national races, and although those races are important, people tend to overlook the importance of local elections. Voter turnout for elections outside of the presidential races has dwindled and according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, the statewide turn out in Illinois was only 19.07% for the 2024 Illinois primary in April, which is the lowest for a primary election since the 1960s. People complain about the school board, money spent on a new village hall or park and how their local government is doing things in their town, but many don't realize that they have the power to weigh in on those decisions. Because state and local elections receive less media coverage, it can be hard to find the information about who and what is on the ballot. I've recently moved to a new town and with the upcoming election on the horizon I figured it was a perfect opportunity to share some resources where to find the information about the upcoming election and encourage you to look beyond the President. Below are some websites to help you start researching those "other" options on your upcoming ballot and if you haven't registered to vote, make sure you do so before the upcoming deadline.
www.Vote.org is my go-to. This website gives resources to not only see what is on your ballot, but also allows you to check your registration, register to vote, request an absentee ballot and even get reminders when it is time to vote so you never miss an election again.
Illinois Voter Guide - The League of Women Voters of Illinois is also another great resource. In addition to finding what is on your local ballot, they have a list of important deadlines and requirements needed when you go out to cast your vote.
Your Guide to Local Elections: Major Elected Officials in State and Local Government - Thurgood Marshall Institute has the same resources above along with a great list here of the local offices and how they affect your daily life.
Sincerely,
Melissa Jurik, ILAP
IPA Director