With the 2024 election less than a month away, The Daily Illini has compiled a guide to voting at the University.
How do I register to vote in Champaign?
Paper voter registration for the upcoming election has already closed, according to Champaign County Chief Deputy Clerk Angela Patton.
“People can still go online and register,” Patton said. “There is also what we call grace period or same-day registration and voting, meaning that you can come to an early voting site or on a voting site on Election Day and register, but you must vote and register at the same time.”
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Patton said online registration was open until Oct. 20, while the grace period for same-day registration and voting runs all the way through election day, which is on Nov. 5. The county official advised against postponing registration and voting.
“We do not recommend waiting until the last day, election day, to vote,” Patton said. “I know it’s hard for students because they’re very busy, but make a plan to vote. You can also request a vote-by-mail ballot, and the last day to request one is on Oct. 31.”
But, Patton said, if voters want to submit their vote-by-mail ballot by the deadline, it should be requested by Oct. 22 or Oct. 23.
In order to register, a voter must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old on or before election day, according to Patton. To register and vote in person at a polling location, two forms of identification must be presented.
“Both pieces of identification must include the individual’s name, and one must include the individual’s current address,” Patton said.
Patton mentioned having a criminal record does not bar anyone from voting, as long as the individual has not been convicted of a felony.
“If you are on the street, you can vote,” Patton said. “There is also access to voting in jail.”
Where do I vote?
All voters registered in Champaign County can vote early or vote on election day at any polling location in the county, regardless of the county district in which they live.
“Let’s say you live in Rantoul, but you work in Champaign, for example at the Champaign Public Library,” Patton said. “You can go into the Champaign Public Library and vote. Every polling location is available.”
According to the Office of Civil Life at the University, on-campus early voting begins at the Illini Union on Oct. 21 and goes until Nov. 4.
- Monday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, most polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. On-campus polling sites include the following locations:
- Illini Union
- University YMCA
- Illini Hillel
- Florida Avenue Residence Hall
- Illinois Street Residence Hall
- Siebel Center for Design
- Activity & Recreation Center
