If you wait until Election Day to register and vote in the upcoming city election, you'll be out of luck.
So if you haven't already, register now to cast a ballot in the city election, which will be Feb. 24 for the offices of mayor, alderman in 50 wards, city clerk and treasurer as well as three citywide advisory referenda questions.
During last November's gubernatorial election, voters in Chicago and across the state had the last-minute option to stop by a polling place to register and cast a ballot on Election Day.
But same-day voter registration during the Nov. 4 midterm election was done as part of a pilot program-and allowed only at select polling sites in Illinois, including several in Chicago. It was so popular at Welles Park on the city's North Side that the wait was hours and some voters didn't vote until 3 a.m.
Nearly 2,900 Chicagoans took advantage of same-day registration in November, the majority of them Millennials ages 18 to 34. In all, 668,033 ballots were cast in Chicago.
Same-day registration will make a comeback-just not in time for the February municipal election. In one of his last acts as governor, Pat Quinn on Jan. 10 signed legislation that makes registering on Election Day permanent. But the new law goes into effect in June.
Chicagoans who need to register to vote or update their addreses have until Jan. 27. They can do so online at chicagoelections.com or via a mail-in form that can be found on the website and printed. Would-be voters also can take care of business in person by visiting the city's election office, located at 69 W. Washington.For residents who miss who deadline, there's a grace period from Jan. 28 through Feb. 21 at which time they can register and vote in the same visit.
Can't remember whether you're already registered? You can check that, too, online or during a visit to the city's election office.
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