"The most important thing we can do as citizens is vote.  No matter whom you vote for, I encourage you to cast a ballot."

    The local election is on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008.  Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

REGISTRATION

1. You must register to vote by Tuesday, October 7!  Just download a registration form at  www.voterinfonet.com .
   
   
2. You can register to vote for the Presidential Election NOW if you will turn 18 by Election Day.
   
   
3. You MUST re-register to vote, even if you just move down the street.
   
   
4. Regular registration ends October 7, but there is a “grace period” from October 8-21 when you can register and vote IN PERSON at the County Clerk’s office in Chicago at 69 W. Washington, 5th floor, or at any of the five suburban offices (Click Here for more Information).
   

VOTING BEFORE ELECTION DAY

1. Vote early! You don’t need a reason to vote early, and you can do it at any of 44 sites in suburban Cook from October 13-30 (Click Here for locations).
   
   
2. You need a reason to vote absentee by mail in Illinois. Reasons include being out of town, hospitalized, on a jury, in jail, or in the military.  The last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot is Thursday, October 30, and it must be post-marked by November 3 to be counted (Click Here for more Information on Absentee Ballots).
   

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

1. Before you go to vote, use the VOTER TOOLKIT at voterinfonet.com
   
   1. to double-check your POLLING PLACE,
      
   2. confirm your REGISTRATION,
      
   3. and view your VIRTUAL BALLOT.

     3. Check out sample ballots here:
Ballot for Voters in the 39th State Senate District and 78th Representative District
Ballot for Voters in the 7th Representative District
Ballot for Voters in the 8th Representative District
Ballot for New Judges
Ballot for Judge Retention
Ballot for Judge Retention Part 2

All of our recommended judicial candidates have also been recommended by at least one of the major bar associations.

JUDICIAL EVALUATIONS 

Illinois State Bar Association Judicial Evaluation
The Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening Judicial Evaluation
The Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation
The Cook County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation

  INSIDER TIP: For quick voting on Election Day, vote between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., when lines are shorter.

THOUGHTS ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

HOW TO VOTE

OPTICAL SCAN VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

1. The optical scan voting machine uses a paper ballot.  The sample ballot in this pamphlet is designed to look similar to the optical scan ballot.  Most voters will use an optical scan ballot to vote.
   
   
2. Once you have been given a ballot, no one but you should touch the ballot unless you ask for help.  Your vote is personal, and no one needs to know how you voted.
   
   
3. Make certain to clearly fill in or make an ‘X’ in the circle next to the person you are voting for.  If you mark outside of the circle, your vote may not count.  If you would like to vote for a write-in candidate, write the name on the line provided and mark the circle next to the write-in space.   You are not required to vote in every race.
   
   
4. Once you have completed voting, place the ballot under the privacy shield provided by an Election Judge.
   
   
5. Insert your ballot into the optical scan machine.  If there is an overvote or an error, the machine will return your ballot.  If you have made a mistake, ask an Election Judge for a new ballot.
   

TOUCH-SCREEN VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

1. An Election Judge will give you a card authorizing the machine to allow you to vote.  Insert the card into the yellow slot on the machine until it ‘clicks.’  The card will remain in the machine until you’re done voting.
   
   
2. To vote for a candidate, touch the candidate’s name on the screen.  If you would like to change the candidate press the ‘X’ and choose a different candidate.  To write in a candidate, select ‘write-in’ and type in the name of the candidate and press ‘ok.’  To move on to the next screen, press ‘continue’ on the screen.  If you’d like to go back to a previous screen, press ‘go back.’
   
   
3. Once you reach the last screen of the ballot, a “Review Screen” will appear.  Any races you skipped will appear in red.  If you would like to make a change, select the race.  When you’ve voted, press ‘continue’ until you reach the Review Screen.
   
   
4. Once you’ve completed voting on the touch-screen, print the paper record of your vote.  The print record will appear in the sealed printer, and you should review the print record for accuracy.  Once you’ve reviewed the record, press ‘cast ballot’ to finish voting.  The paper record of your vote will be stored secretly in the printer compartment.  The card from step 1 will eject.  Return the card to an Election Judge.
   

The information presented above is based on information provided by the Cook County Clerk, and is prepared as accurately as possible.  For more information on the new voting equipment, visit the Cook County Clerk’s web site, www.voterinfonet.com or call the Clerk’s office at (312) 603-0906.  If you have any other questions or concerns, even on Election Day, call the Democratic Party of Oak Park at (708) 386-0090.

BE HEARD!
For Suburban Cook registration forms and information see www.voterinfonet.com