How to vote in your April 1 election
Groceries, schools and public safety are all affected by local elections taking place April 1. Here’s what to know.
Grocery prices, property taxes, schools and new businesses opening or closing all depend on local governments, so making your voice heard by voting can help them change for the better.
Turnout in local elections is also the lowest, so your vote has the greatest chance to swing the results.
What’s on the ballot?
The April 1 elections will decide mayors and local leaders in Illinois except for Chicago. Many Illinois towns are passing local grocery taxes, so voting in this election could impact grocery prices in your town.
School board races are also on the ballot, and those leaders will have the greatest impact on property taxes. Schools on average take about two-thirds of property tax bills, and school boards set the amounts to be collected.
How can I vote?
Early voting has started in some areas, click here to see your voter registration status. The Illinois State Board of Elections has a polling place lookup tool if you’re unsure of where to go vote.
Click here to see if your election authority has online vote-by-mail signup.
What do I need to bring?
Voters are allowed to bring notes and endorsement sheets into voting booths. You do not need to show identification. However, if you aren’t registered to vote at your current address you may need to show a form of ID. The following are acceptable forms of ID:
- A current and valid photo identification
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Lease or contract for residence
- Student ID and mail addressed to voter’s residence
- Government document
I want to vote in person but have a mail-in ballot. What can I do?
If you’ve requested a ballot to vote by mail, you can exchange the mail ballot at your nearest polling place for a regular ballot. Then you follow the normal in-person voting procedure.
Polls will be open for in-person voting from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 1.