Voting News

ISSUE 01, OCTOBER 13, 2012 Photo: Changethewind.org

Distributed by Valerie F. Leonard Sources: Chicago Board of Elections Lawndale Alliance

What You Should Know About the Upcoming Election

Source: Sour Source:

this issue
Grace Period Registration & Voting What is Absentee Voting? Ward Maps Have Changed Absentee Voting In Person Check Your Voter Registration Absentee Voting Abuse Vote Yes! For Elected School Board P.1 P. 2 P. 2 P. 3 P. 3 P. 4 P. 4

Grace Period Registration and Voting

For citizens who are qualified to vote in the General Election but who miss the standard Oct. 9, 2012 voter-registration deadline, there is a safety net. Every day through Sat., Nov. 3, you may register to vote, update your address or file your name change during the "Grace Period." Note: During the "Grace Period," you must register in person -- and then immediately vote during that same visit. Please bring two forms of identification, at least one of which must show your current address. Location for Grace Period Registration & Voting Oct. 10 through Nov. 3, 2012 Chicago Election Board 69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor Hours: Mon - Sat: 9 am - 5 pm Sundays: 9 am - 3 pm To check your voter registration status, click here and enter your address and last name

Welcome to Voting News, a publication that I put together based on information provided by the Chicago Board of Elections and the Lawndale Alliance. I included information that voters would be most likely to find to be of interest. If, after reading this newsletter you still have questions, please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website, which will have more complete information. Their URL is http://www.chicagoelections.com/ It is my sincere hope that you find this information to be useful, and that you would share it with others. Sincerely, Valerie F. Leonard,Publisher consulting@valeriefleonard.com

What is Absentee Voting?

Voters may cast their ballots prior to Election Day -- either in person at an Early Voting location, or by mail through Absentee Voting. Under Illinois law, any voter may use Absentee Voting or Early Voting. Voters do not need a reason or excuse to use Absentee Voting or Early Voting. By law, Sept. 27, 2012 is the first day that civilian voters in the United States may apply to cast an absentee ballot in the General Election. By law, a voter cannot submit an application by fax or email unless the voter is in the military or living overseas.

How to Vote Absentee / How to Vote by Mail

Step 1. Complete an absentee ballot application and return the completed application to the Election Board at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 600, Chicago IL 60602 by Nov. 1, 2012. The Election Board strongly recommends that voters submit their applications for absentee ballots in early October, well ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline. Absentee ballot applications also are availableat the Board's offices for pick-up. Voters also may call 312-269-7967 to ask to have absentee ballot applications mailed to them. The completed application for absentee ballot must include the voter's name, signature and registration address, as well as the address where the absentee ballot should be mailed. Upon receipt of the completed original application, the Election Board will mail an absentee ballot to the voter, or as soon as ballots are available from the printer. Civilians in the United States must submit original signed applications. By law, civilians in the United States cannot submit applications that are faxed, photocopied or emailed. Absentee voters whose applications do not arrive by the Nov. 1 deadline must vote absentee in person at the Election Board or vote at the precinct polling place on Election Day. NOTE: Chicago voters should submit their applications for absentee ballots directly to the Board of Election Commissioners, 69 W. Washington St., Ste. 600, P.O. Box 1179, Chicago IL 60690-1179 - and not to any other address. Step 2. Vote the absentee ballot and return it to the Election Board for processing. Follow all enclosed instructions and make sure to vote in secret. A voted absentee ballot must be postmarked (or in the absence of a postmark, certified by the voter) on or before Nov. 5 (at least one day before Election Day) in order to be counted. In addition, the Board must receive the returned ballot by Nov. 20, 2012 for the ballot to be counted. The ballot may be returned personally, by an immediate relative, by U.S. Mail or by a state licensed motor carrier. Once an absentee ballot has been returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. An absentee voter cannot vote in person in the polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the absentee ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges or completes an affidavit stating the absentee ballot was never received by the voter. NOTE: Chicago voters should submit their voted absentee ballots directly to the Board of Election Commissioners, 69 W. Washington St., Ste. 600, P.O. Box 1179, Chicago IL 60690-1179 - and not to any other address.

The Ward Maps Have Changed Since the Last Election

The new Ward maps based on 2010 Census data have taken effect. Links to the City Wide Map and West Side wards are shown below. Click onto the links to the individual ward maps to see old ward boundaries and precincts, new ward boundaries and precincts and street names. City of Chicago 2nd Ward 12th Ward 22nd Ward 24th Ward 25th Ward 27th Ward 28th Ward 29th Ward 37th Ward

absentee in person at the Election Board or vote at the precinct polling place on Election Day.

Absentee Voting in Person NOTE: Chicago voters should submit their applications for absentee ballots directly to the Board of Election Commissioners, 69 W. Check Your Voter at the St., Ste. 600, P.O. Box 1179, WashingtonElection Board Chicago IL 60690-1179 - and not to any other address. Step 2. Vote the absentee ballot and return it to the Election Board for processing. Registration Any qualified voter may cast and make sure to in person in A offices of the Board must Follow all enclosed instructionsan absentee ballotvote in secret.thevoted absentee ballot of be postmarked (or in the absence of a Election certified by the the weekend before the (at least one day before Election Day) in order to StatusIn addition, the Board must postmark,Commissionersvoter) on or before Nov. 5 election and the day before the election. be counted.
receive the returned ballot by Nov. 20, 2012 for the ballot to be counted. Make sure your voter registration In-Person Absentee Voting will be offered at 69 W. Washington St. on the Lower is current. Click here, and enter The ballot maythese hours:personally, by an immediate relative, by U.S. Mail or by a state licensed motor carrier. Level, during be returned your address and last name. You - Sun., Nov. 4: 9 am - noon will be directed to a page with a list Once an Nov. 5: 9 ballot 5 pmbeen returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. An absentee voter cannot vote in person in the - Mon., absentee am - has of people with the same last name polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the absentee ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges or completes an affidavit who live at the same address. stating the absentee ballot was never received by the voter. Click your name and you will be directed to a page with your NOTE: Chicago voters should submit their voted absentee ballots directly to the Board of Election Commissioners, 69 W. voter information. Click here for more information on voting for members of the armed services and civilians living overseas.

Military/Civilian Overseas Voters

Absentee Voting: For Physical Disability

Certain voters may also qualify for special additional absentee voting privileges as explained below.

Get Your Sample Ballot

Five-Year DVI Card

A voter with a permanent physical disability or a qualified nursing home resident may request a Disabled Voter's Identification Card (DVI), which is valid for all elections during a five-year period. The voter is automatically sent an absentee ballot application by the Board prior to each election. The voter must complete the DVI application and return it to the Board in order to receive an absentee ballot.

Residents of Licensed Nursing Homes

Voters residing in licensed nursing homes vote on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday preceding an election. Residents who are registered voters and who submit an absentee ballot application by the Thursday before the election are allowed to vote during the scheduled nursing home balloting. For complete information on nursing home voting procedures, contact the Board at 1-312-269-7865.

Make sure your voter registration is current. Click here, and enter your address and last name. You will be directed to a page with a list of people with the same last name who live at the same address. Click your name and you will be directed to a page with your voter information, including your ward, precinct and polling place. Click onto the tab that reads Sample Ballot to download a copy of the ballot for your ward and precinct. This will include all state and federal referenda questions, candidates and a referendum asking if Chicago should have an elected school board.

Hospitalized Voters
A registered voter who is hospitalized not more than 14 days before an election may request that an absentee ballot be delivered in person to him or her in the hospital. An affidavit must be completed by the voter, his or her attending physician, and the relative (or registered voter of the same precinct) who delivers the absentee ballot to the hospital. Contact the Absentee Department at 1-312-269-7967 for complete details on these procedures.

Download a Candidates List

Click here to get a sample ballot, a list of write-in candidates or list of every candidate and referendum question that will be on the ballot.

Make sure your voter registration is current. Click here, and enter your address and last name. You will be directed to a page with a list of people with the same last name who live at the same address. Click your name and you will be directed to a page with your voter information. This page will also have a tab with your sample ballot. Click onto the sample ballot tab to review and download the sample ballot for your ward and precinct. The sample ballot will list the candidates and advisory referenda (questions of public policy). You will see state and citywide referenda questions on the in thepage. election orin aattempt to It is a felony in Illinois to vote more than once front same If you live to precinct where the referendum for an elected school board is offered, itmore than the last page, andelection. very last voting item. vote will be on once in the same will be the

Absentee Voting Abuse

Find Your Polling Place

Falsifying Eligibility for Absentee Ballots, Intimidation/Interference

Persons who knowingly make a false statement concerning their eligibility to vote absentee may be criminally prosecuted under Illinois law (10ILCS 5/29-10). Any person who intimidates or unduly influences another person to cast an absentee ballot in a manner inconsistent with the voter's intent or who marks or tampers with an absentee ballot of another person shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Note: A physically incapacitated voter is entitled to assistance if that voter requests the assistance. Voters are forbidden by law from using multiple voting systems (Early Voting and Absentee Voting, for example) to change or undo a ballot for any reason.

Make sure your voter registration is current. Click here, and enter your address and last name. You will be directed to a page with a list of people with the same last name who live at the same address. Click your name and you will be directed to a page with your voter information, including your ward, precinct and polling place.

Vote Yes! For an Elected School Board

Four independent coalitions, including Communities Organized for Democracy in Education (CODE), Chicago Community Coalition for an Elected School Board (CCC4ESB), Progressive Action Coalition for Education (PACE) and the Lawndale Alliance have collected a combined 15,000 signatures from voters around the City of Chicago, asking if they would like to see a referendum question on the ballot asking if the City of Chicago should have an elected school board. As a result of their efforts, voters from 327 precincts in 35 Wards around the City of Chicago will have an opportunity to respond to the referendum question on the November ballot. The impacted West Side areas include some precincts or parts of precincts in Wards 12, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28 and 29. To find out if you are eligible to vote for the referendum, click here, Make sure your voter registration is current. Click here, and enter your address and last name. You will be directed to a page with a list of people with the same last name who live at the same address. Click your name and you will be directed to a page with your voter information, including your ward, precinct and polling place. Click onto the tab that reads Sample ballot to download a copy of the ballot for your ward and precinct. Go to the last page, and the very last item will be a question asking if you think the Chicago Public Schools should have an elected school board. If you live in a ward that I have not listed, Click here to download the most recent copy of the Candidates List. Go to the very last page to review the referendum question, and an entire list of wards and precincts that will have the referendum question on the ballot. If you are still not sure you are eligible, follow the instructions to download a sample ballot, and review the very last item on the last page. We ask that you vote Yes. Your Yes vote is an opinion, and is not binding. We will share the election results with our state representatives and state senators, who will decide if they want to change the law in order to create an elected school board in Chicago. Thank you in advance for your Yes vote!

List of All Chicago Polling Places

Click here to download a list of all polling places in the City of Chicago.

List of All Chicago Early Voting Locations

Click here to see a list of early voting locations throughout the City of Chicago.