November 3, 2020
Alderman Reilly Reports
Exercise Your Right to Vote! Election Day is TODAY!
The General Election is today, Tuesday, November 3. Polling stations close promptly at 7:00pm; however, voters who are waiting in line at 7:00pm will be allowed to cast their ballot.  

Click here to find your polling place for Election Day. NOTE: Voters can also cast their ballots tomorrow at any early voting site and the United Center.  


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  

Q: Who will be eligible to vote at the Nov. 3 General Election? 

A: Everyone who is: 
  • a U.S. citizen, and 
  • born on or before Nov. 3, 2002, and 
  • living in their precinct at least 30 days before the election, and 
  • not claiming the right to vote elsewhere; and 
  • not in prison/jail and currently serving time for a conviction.  
  • NOTE: Ex-convicts who have completed their sentences and who meet all other requirements listed above are eligible to register and vote in Illinois. This includes ex-convicts who are no longer incarcerated and who have been released on parole or probation. Additionally, eligible voters who are in jail on criminal charges and who are awaiting trial (pre-trial detainees) have the right to vote. 


Q: What offices will be on the ballots on Nov. 3? 

A: Click here to see a list of offices on the ballots and select the 'Sample Ballot' tab.


Q: When are Early Voting and Vote By Mail ballots counted? 

A: On Election Night on Nov. 3, the Election Board will report unofficial results that include: 
  • Votes from all ballots from Vote By Mail that were received and approved on or before the morning of Mon., Nov. 2 
  • Votes from all Election Day ballots cast in the precincts, and 
  • Votes from Early Voting sites. 

Then, later-arriving Vote By Mail ballots (those that arrive and are approved the afternoon of Mon., Nov. 2 or later), in addition to provisional ballots, will continue to be processed and added to the counts from Nov. 5 through Nov. 17. Under a long-standing state law, election counts are not final and official until at least 14 days after Election Day to allow for all late-arriving Vote By Mail Ballots and all eligible provisional ballots to be included in the final counts. 


Q: Will there be In-Person Early Voting & Registration services before and on Nov. 3? 

A: Yes. Voters may use any of the 51 sites through Election Day, Nov. 3. On Nov. 3, Chicago voters also may vote at the United Center. 


Q: On Election Day, can a voter go to any precinct polling place? 

A: On Election Day, voters may vote at their home precinct polling place. Click here to find your precinct number and polling place. Voters also may use any of the 51 Early Voting sites on Election Day, plus the United Center. 


Q: Will my Election Day precinct polling place be at the same location? 

A: Many precinct polling places changed to provide more space for social distancing. Click here to find your precinct number and polling place. 

Please note: IF YOU MOVED (1) to Chicago for the first time or (2) from one Chicago precinct to another Chicago precinct before Oct. 5, go to the precinct and polling place for your new address. At the polling place for your new address, you may vote after updating your registration address with any two forms of ID, so long as at least one ID shows your new address. Find your new polling place by entering only your new address here


Q: If I move shortly before Election Day, should I vote at my new precinct or my old precinct? 

A: The answer depends on when you moved and where you moved from. 

If you moved before Oct. 5, 2020 from anywhere to your current Chicago address, vote at the Chicago precinct polling place for your new, current address. You may register for the first time or update your registration -- and then vote -- at your new precinct polling place on Election Day with two forms of ID, at least one of which shows your current address. Learn more about the IDs you may use

If you moved on or after Oct. 5, 2020 from your old Chicago address to your current Chicago address, vote at the precinct polling place for your old address. Then, after Election Day, update your registration ahead of the next election. 


Q: Do I have to declare a political party in order to vote Nov. 3? 

A: No. A standard ballot will be issued to each voter based on the voter's address and the federal, state and local voting districts where the voter lives. 


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

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

No employer shall refuse an employee the privilege of time off from work nor subject the employee to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to such an absence from work. 

Should you have additional questions, please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website, or call their office at (312) 269-7900.