Don't Be a Baby: VOTE!
A How-to Guide for Chicago Voters

By Mary Kuhn, October 24, 2008

1.  Are you registered?  Check your voter registration status at the Board of Elections Commissioners for the City of Chicago site.  If you aren't, unfortunately it is too late to register in Illinois.

2. Print a sample ballot. This makes going to the polls a quick and simple task.  Enter your address here and you can print a sample ballot that will be almost exactly like your ballot when you go to vote.  I mark my sample ballot before I vote, then I mark my selections on my real ballot based on the sample ballot.

3.  Check out endorsements. Endorsements can help you make your decision and mark your sample ballot. Refer to Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

4. Research local candidates & judges (optional).  I find the Chicago voter guide to be helpful in researching candidates. Enter your address and the guide will only show you info for your candidates. And find out who those mystery judges really are at VoteforJudges.org.

5. Find your polling place.  We encourage you to VOTE EARLY to avoid complications and long lines.  For early voting until October 30th, see this site for times/locations.  If you are voting on Nov. 4th, you can find your polling place here.

6. VOTE EARLY OR JUST VOTE!  Exercise your fundamental right as a US citizen by voting.

Photo credit: Emily Hippert
About the Photo: Young Chicagoan Simon Cronemeyer exercises his First Amendment rights by expressing support for Barack Obama. Whether or not you agree with Simon, he can't vote for another 17 years, so we think you should.

Comments

[Scarlett Stoppa]

Here's a link to an article on the state's attorney race.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/ourtown/081030/