Q:  When are polls open on Election Day?

A: Each polling place in the City of Chicago is to be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Nov. 2, 2010 General Election.

Q:  What other options do I have to vote?

A: Any Chicago voter may use the option of Early Voting at any of 51 sites open between Oct. 12 and Oct. 28.

Any Chicago voter also has the option of Absentee Voting by mail. No excuse is needed for absentee voting.

There are no do-overs. Once a voter has cast a ballot in an election using any method (Early Voting, Absentee Voting or Election Day Voting), it is illegal for that voter to cast another ballot or even attempt to cast another ballot in that same election. 

Q: Who is eligible to vote?

A: Only currently registered voters are eligible to vote. To register, a person must be: (1) a U.S. citizen; (2) at least 18 years of age on Election Day; and (3) a resident of the precinct 30 days before the election. Click here for more information on registering to vote.

The deadline to register to vote for this election is Oct. 5. For those who miss the deadline, in-person Grace Period registration will be offered at the Election Board from Oct. 6 through Oct. 26.

Q: Which polling place may I use to vote?

A: You must go only to the polling place and precinct assigned to your precinct. Click here to search for the polling place by the voter's address.

Q: Where can I call if there is a problem at my polling place with registration, equipment, electioneering in the campaign-free zone or any other issue?

A: On Election Day, Chicago voters should contact our Election Central hotlines at 1.312.269.7870.

Q: Do I have to declare a political party in order to vote a ballot?

A: No, in the General Election, the voter receives the ballot with all of the offices, candidates and referenda questions that apply to that voter's address.

Q: What if I receive the ballot for the wrong jurisdiction, such as the wrong State House District, ?

A: Alert a Judge of Election to either spoil the paper ballot, or call the Judge to the touchscreen before you have cast your ballot to correctly activate a new card.

Do not proceed to cast the wrong ballot. Once a voter has cast a ballot, that ballot cannot be retrieved and there is no second chance or "do over."

Q:  What is the new "undervote alert" system for paper ballots?

A: Under a newer state law that took effect this year, the paper ballot scanner must return or reject any ballot on which the voter did not make a selection for one of the statewide constitutional offices (Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer). Click here to see video

If the scanner rejects an undervoted ballot, the Voter has two options:

   (1) to make changes to the ballot; or

   (2) to tell the Judge of Election to accept the ballot "as is."

If the ballot scanner returns a ballot for any reason, the Judge of Election should tell the Voter the options and not look at the ballot.

The touchscreen machines feature a similar review system that alerts the voters to any "undervotes" before the voter casts the ballot.

Q:  What will be on the ballot in the Nov. 2 General Election?

A: Chicago voters will cast ballots on the following:

     -- U.S. Senator
     -- U.S. Representative in each district
     -- Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Comptroller & State Treasurer
     -- State Representative in each districts and State Senators in Districts 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16
     -- Cook County Board President, a County Commissioner in each district, County Assessor, County Clerk, County Sheriff and County Treasurer
     -- Commissioners for the Water Reclamation District
     -- Judges at the Subcircuit, Circuit, Appellate and Supreme Court levels
     -- Whether to retain Judges ("yes" or "no")
     -- Any referenda questions that may qualify for the ballot statewide or locally

As candidates and referendum questions are certified by state and local authorities, this web site will carry lists of candidates and sample ballots starting in late August.

Q:  What does a "Federal Office Only" or "Fail Safe" ballot contain?

A: The Federal Offices on a "Federal Office Only" or"Fail Safe" ballot are:
 - United States Senator
 - Representative in Congress

Q:  Why is there a "Fail Safe" ballot with Federal Offices Only?

A:  Voters who moved from their registration addresses more than 30 days prior to the election and who DID NOT re-register may be able to vote a "Fail Safe" ballot.  The move must be in the same election jurisdiction, i.e. from one address in Chicago to another address in Chicago, or from one address in suburban Cook to another in suburban Cook.  The individual must return to the polling place for the old address where he/she was registered to vote AND there must still be a record of that person's registration in the former precinct.

If the person moved from Suburban Cook County into Chicago (or vice versa) or from one county to another, that person is NOT eligible to vote a Fail Safe ballot.

Q:  Similar to Early Voting, can a voter go to any site in Chicago to vote?

A: No. On Election Day, every voter must vote at the polling place assigned to his or her precinct. You may find your polling place, check your voter-registration status or preview the sample ballot for any Chicago address here.

Q:  What is a Provisional Ballot? When are Provisional Ballots counted?

A: If the judges cannot locate a voter registration record for a person, they:
 - Verify that the person's address is within the precinct by looking at the precinct map, precinct outline, poll list or by calling the registration hotline;
 - Call the registration hotline to find out if the person is registered to vote in their precinct.
 - If the person's residence address is outside the precinct, inform the person of that fact, give the person the appropriate telephone number for the Board to locate the correct polling place forthat person's residence and instruct the person to go to the proper polling place to vote.

If the voters insist, evenafter being told that they are in the wrong precinct, the judges must inform the voter that if they cast a Provisional Ballotinthe wrong precinct, it will not be counted.

Reasons for voting a Provisional Ballot include:
 - No registration record found in the precinct;

 - Voter is challenged and the judges uphold the challenge;

 - First time mail-in registrant who is required to provide ID but does not have proper ID.

Provisional ballots are separated from others cast on Election Day. After Election Day, Board employees evaluate provisional ballot applications in a public process to determine whether the corresponding ballot can be released into the count. The ballot itself is not visible during this evaluation process.

Q:  Do employers have to give employees time off from work to vote?

A:  Yes, employees are entitled to two hours off work:
 - The employee must give the employer notice prior to Election Day. (The Election Code does not specify what type of notice is required);
 - The employer may specify the 2-hour period during which the employee may be absent;
 - The employer must permit a 2-hour absence during hours if the employee's working time starts before 7:59 a.m. (within two hours of the opening of polls) and the end time is after 5:01 p.m. (within two hours of the closing of polls).

No employer shall refuse an employee the privilege of time off from work. No employer shall subject the employee to a penalty, including a reductionin compensation, due to such an absence from work.

Q:  If I make a mistake while voting, can I correct it?

A: If you have yet to cast your ballot and you notice a mistake in your selections on the touch screen, go back and touch that choice again and then make the selection you intended.  If you make a mistake on a paper ballot, you must ask the judge for a new paper ballot. Once you have cast your ballot, there is no retrieving of a ballot or second chance.

Q:  If I voted in Early Voting or Absentee Voting and changed my mind, may I vote again on Election Day to cancel out my first ballot?

A:  No. Once a voter casts a ballot, the voter cannot cast another ballot.  If you make a mistake and discover it before casting your ballot, you may correct it on the touch screen - or ask the judge for a new paper ballot.

It is a felony to vote more than once in the same election. It is also a felony to attempt to vote more than once in the same election.