Early Voting Has Started!
Early voting has now started in all 50 wards and suburban Cook County. We are encouraging everyone to make sure you have a plan on how you are going to vote in this election given the current pandemic. If you live in Chicago visit the Chicago Board of Elections website to check your registration, to register to vote, or to update your voter registration address.

If you live in Evanston or anywhere in suburban Cook county you can check your voter information here. This site will identify your polling place, the status of your mail ballot and your early voting sites.

If you are registering to vote or updating your voter registration address at an Early Voting location you can do this until November 2 or you can do this at your polling place on Election Day (November 3). You are required to have two forms of identification. The Chicago Board of Elections has a list of acceptable forms of identification on their website.

To register to vote, you must:
  • be a U.S. citizen, and
  • be born on or before Nov. 3. 2002, and
  • live in your precinct at least 30 days before the election, and
  • not claim the right to vote elsewhere; and
  • not be in prison/jail serving time for a conviction. (Note: Ex-convicts who have been released from prison/jail and who meet all other requirements listed above are eligible to register and vote in Illinois. Ex-convicts who have been released and are on parole/probation ARE eligible to register and vote in Illinois.)

All early voting sites also include secure drop boxes where individuals can drop their early mail in ballots. Chicago Board of Elections began sending mail in ballots late September to registered voters who have requested one.

There are also 50 secure drop boxes throughout suburban Cook County. Details on suburban drop box locations can be found here.
Voters are encouraged to drop off their completed mail ballot at any secure drop box located throughout the city and suburban cook county to avoid delays in mailing back the completed ballot via USPS. Early voting locations have a separate entrance and staff to accept your completed ballot, so you do not have to wait in line to return your ballot.

If you choose to return your mail ballot via USPS, it must be postmarked on or before November 3 to count. Any mail ballot that is postmarked November 4 or later will not count. 

In the 49th Ward, early voting and the secure drop-box will be at New Field Elementary, 1707 W. Morse. There will not be voting at Pottawattomie Park this year. 

In the 48th Ward, early voting and the secure drop-box will be at Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. There will not be voting at Edgewater Library this year.

The hours for early voting and to return a mail ballot to a drop box at early voting locations are 8:30 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

In Evanston, early voting can be done at Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center
2100 Ridge Ave., Room G300 Evanston, IL 60201. A secure drop box can also be found at this location for suburban Cook County voters.

Hours
Weekdays
October 19-23, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
October 26-30, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
November 2 , 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays
October 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays
October 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
November 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can track your mail ballot on the Chicago Board of Elections' website here. If you have requested a mail ballot and have not received one by October 29, please contact the Chicago Board of Elections at 312-269-7967. If you still do not receive a mail ballot in time for the Election, you can go to your polling place on Election Day (November 3). You will be asked to sign an affidavit to complete a provisional ballot. 

However, if a person chooses to vote in person on Election Day (November 3), they are required to vote at their polling place, although all early voting locations will remain open as super sites on Election Day if there are issues at your assigned polling place. To locate your polling place, visit the Chicago Board of Election's Voter Information page and input the address where you're registered to vote. A voter may opt to vote in person instead of returning their mail ballot to a drop box or through USPS. If you choose to do this, you are required to bring your mail ballot with you to an early voting location or your polling place on Election Day and turn it in to an election judge to vote in person instead.
COVID-19 Count as of Monday, October 19th:


If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 800-889-3931
Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov

City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 312-746-4835
Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
2020 Fall Coat Drive
Paper Shredding Event:
Friday, October 30 from 10am-2pm Senn High School
Virtual Town Hall On Efforts to End Money Bond:
Join one of three upcoming discussions
Join us at our upcoming town hall Tomorrow Tuesday, October 20 at 7pm for a discussion with coalition members and Chief Senate Sponsor Senator Robert Peters to discuss criminal justice reform and efforts to end the use of money bond. Register by clicking the image below.

If you cannot attend this town hall follow the link to register for one of the other two options with my House colleagues who are also supporting this effort.
Illinois Department of Transportation is Hiring
IDOT is hiring two types of temporary positions for its Winter Seasonal Program, which usually occurs from October 16th through April 15th of each year. Specific requirements are needed for each positions. For more information click here.
Family Matters: changing "ism's"
Housing Authority of Cook County :
Waitlist Opening
The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) is opening its Housing Choice Voucher wait list today Monday, October 19, 2020 at 8:30am! All completed applications will be accepted until Monday, November 2, 2020 at 4:30pm. This allows consumers two weeks to apply!
 
The Housing Choice Voucher program provides rental assistance to low income families so they can afford to live in the suburbs of Cook County. Here are some of the details:
  • Program application closes November 2 at 4:30pm
  • Apply online at myportal.thehacc.org
  • All completed applications will be accepted
  • Income limit for a one person household is $31,850 and $36,400 for a two person household
  • Applications for 10,000 households will be placed on the waiting list
  • A computer generated lottery system will determine the order of applicants on the wait list
  • If more than 10,000 completed applications are submitted, a computer generated lottery system will determine which of the 10,000 applications will be placed on the waiting list
Sincerely,

Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District

Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy

5533 N Broadway

Chicago IL 60640
773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)