ACTION ALERT: Register to vote!

ACTION ALERT: Register to vote! Are you registered to vote? Do you need to vote absentee? What if you miss the registration deadline? Do you know when early voting begins? How do you find out where you vote? What if you have more questions?

The 2012 General Elections are drawing closer, but your opportunity to register is on more barred time. CAIR-Chicago wants to ensure that you’re aware of all the provisions that are necessary for you to exercise your voting rights this election period. Read the information below to access important links to register, update your information, get answers from your local election authorities, and mark your calendars for all the important dates until Election Day on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Indiana & Wisconsin (Greater Chicagoland) Given that greater Chicagoland extends into northwest Indiana and southeast Wisconsin, here are relevant links for those residents regarding voter registration:

To find your polling place, contact your county clerk or visit www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php

Indiana • Online Registration: https://indianavoters.in.gov/ • Secretary of State: http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2403.htm

Wisconsin • Government Accountability Board: http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/registration-voting • Independent Elections Blog: http://www.wisconsinvote.org/

City of Chicago, Chicagoland, & Illinois This year voting is as important as it has ever been. The districts in Illinois have been redrawn and established politicians will have new challengers. There are major issues at all levels of government with the National Defense and Authorization Act (NDAA), End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA), health care reform (also known as Obamacare) and anti-Sharia legislation efforts. It is your job to educate yourself and others so that your voice can be heard. Below are links and information relevant to Illinois residents, including local election authorities and important dates leading up to Election Day.

Are you registered to vote? Check your voter registration status. Need more information? Contact your local election authorities. To find your polling place, contact your county clerk or visit www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php

Eligibility Requirements: • A U.S. citizen • At least 18 years of age by Election Day • Have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day

ID Needed for Voting In general, identification is not required to vote at the polls, although you will be required to verify your signature. However, there are individual circumstances that may require that identification be shown. In those cases, you must present a photo ID, and if the photo ID has an address, it must match the registration address. If a photo ID is not used, the document (examples of which are listed below) must show your name and address. This must be presented to an election judge before being permitted to vote.

If you registered to vote by mail after January 1, 2003, and you did not submit a copy of the required identification with the registration application at that time, and you will be voting in a jurisdiction for the first time, then you will be required to submit a copy of one of the following:

• Current and valid photo identification • Utility bill • Government check • Paycheck • Government document

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities Numerous provisions are available to aid voters with disabilities. If you are a disabled voter you may request the opportunity to register at home and have registration materials brought to you. You may also request to register to vote by mail. If you are permanently physically disabled, in a nursing home or in a hospital, you may also be eligible for absentee voting. The Help America Vote Act requires that election authorities have voting equipment in place for voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently, and Illinois is no exception. Additionally, there are options for a seated voting booth, voting assistance from a friend, relative, or two election judges (one from each party), and curbside voting. Language assistance is also available where required under amendments to the Federal Voting Act of 1992.

Time Off To Vote Employers must grant employees two hours to vote during their regular working shift. This time off is unpaid unless specified otherwise by the employer.

Provisional Voting An election judge will issue you a provisional ballot at your polling place if: • Your name does not appear on the lists of registered voters for the precinct • Your voting status has been challenged by an election judge, poll watcher or another voter and a majority of election judges agree • A court order is issued instructing your polling place to remain open after 7:00 pm (if this occurs everyone voting after 7:00 pm must cast a provisional ballot) • You are required to show identification because you registered by mail, but you did not bring ID to the polling place on Election Day or early voting site. In this instance you must supply the election authority with a copy of acceptable identification by 7:00 pm the Thursday after Election Day.

By law, you must vote in your assigned precinct for all votes on your provisional ballot to count. Provisional ballots are counted after Election Day. The election authority receives all provisional ballots and determines the registration status for each provisional voter within two weeks after the election. If it is determined that you are registered and eligible to vote, your vote will be counted. If you are not registered, your vote will not be counted, but the information you supplied on the affidavit form will serve as a registration application for the next election.

Election authorities in Chicago and the counties within Chicagoland:

City of Chicago Chicago Election Board 69 W. Washington St., Suite 600 312-269-7900 Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm Weekends: Closed

Cook County Cook County Election Board 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago 312-603-0906 Hours: Mon-Fri: 9 am – 5 pm Weekends: Closed

DuPage County DuPage County Election Commission 421 N. County Farm Rd., Wheaton 630-407-5600 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

Kane County Kane County Clerk’s Office 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building B, Geneva 630-232-5990 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

Kendall County Kendall County Clerk’s Office 111 W. Fox St., Yorkville 630-553-4104 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

Lake County Lake County Clerk’s Office 18 N. County St.. Room 101, Waukegan 847-377-2410 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30 am – 5 pm Weekends: Closed

McHenry County McHenry County Clerk’s Office 667 Ware Rd., Room 107, Woodstock 815-334-4242 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

Will County Will County Clerk’s Office 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet 815-740-4782 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

All Illinois Residents Illinois State Board of Elections 2329 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield 217-782-4141 Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 am – 4:30 pm Weekends: Closed

Important Dates to Remember for Voter Registration in the 2012 General Elections

9/27/2012: First day to apply for absentee ballot (mail or in-person) First day for any registered voter presently within the United States, to make application by mail or in person to the election authority for an official ballot. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

10/9/2012: First day to apply for absentee if voter moved First day a registered Illinois voter who has moved within 30 days outside of his/her precinct prior to a Presidential election may apply either by mail or in person for an absentee ballot for President and Vice President only with the election authority having jurisdiction over his/her precinct of former residence. (10 ILCS 5/20-13.1)

10/9/2012: Last day to register Last day for registration or transfer of registration within the offices of the election authority. Precinct registration may apply to the City of Chicago and Cook County. Please check with these jurisdictions for registration deadlines. (10 ILCS 5/4-6, 4-16, 5-5, 5-23, 6-29, 6-50, 6-53, 6-54) Last day for registration of voters by deputy registrars, including municipal, township and road district clerks and precinct committeemen. Precinct registration may apply to the City of Chicago and Cook County. Please check with these jurisdictions for registration deadlines. 10 ILCS 5/4-6.2, 5-16.2, 6-50.2)

10/10/2012: First day for grace period registration and voting. First day for grace period registration or change of address in the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose by the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/4-50, 5-50, 6-100) First day for grace period voting at the election authority’s office, or location designated by the election authority, or by mail, at the discretion of the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/4-50, 5-50, 6-100)

10/22/2012: Early voting starts First day for early voting at the office of the election authority and permanent locations designated by the election authority. Temporary early voting locations may be established by the election authority, but are not required to maintain the same voting days and hours as the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/19A-15, 19A-20)

11/1/2012: Last day for absentee voting by mail Last day a nonregistered citizen residing in Illinois who is temporarily absent from his/her county of residence may apply by mail for an absentee ballot to vote for President and Vice President only with the election authority having jurisdiction over his/her precinct of permanent residence. (10 ILCS 5/20-13) Last day for the election authority to receive an absentee application by mail from any registered voter presently within the United States. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)

11/1/2012: Last day to apply for absentee if voter moved Last day a registered voter in Illinois who has moved outside of his/her precinct within 30 days prior to a Presidential election may apply by mail for an absentee ballot to vote for President and Vice President only with the election authority having jurisdiction over his/her precinct of former residence. (10 ILCS 5/20-13.1)

11/3/2012: Last day for Grace Period registration and voting Last day of grace period registration or change of address in the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose by the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/4-50, 5-50, 6-100) Last day of grace period registration or change of address in the office of the election authority or at a location designated for this purpose by the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/4-50, 5-50, 6-100)

11/3/2012: Last day for Early Voting Last day for early voting at the office of the election authority and permanent locations designated by the election authority. Temporary early voting locations may be established by the election authority, but are not required to maintain the same voting days and hours as the election authority. (10 ILCS 5/19A-15, 19A-20)

11/5/2012 Last day to vote in-person absentee Last day for any registered voter, presently within the confines of the United States, to vote in person at the election authority, municipal, township or road district clerk office who is authorized to conduct absentee voting. (10 ILCS 5/19-2)