Voting is a great way to practice civic engagement and make your impact. The next opportunity to vote in McLean County is the April 6 local election.
Municipal elections typically have lower turnouts, so every vote really matters. It is extremely important for voters to familiarize themselves with the ballot and to learn what candidates could offer the community. Visit the Redbird Voter Guide for full information on the April 6 election.
“We can feel the effects of our voice much more directly in our local elections,” said Harriett Steinbach, assistant director at the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE). “We encourage students to vote in these elections and cast their ballot for candidates who represent their beliefs and values. Students are members of the community, even if they are only here temporarily.”
Students not registered to vote in McLean County are encouraged to check with their home community to see if there are any local elections for which they should vote. Visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website for more information, or look for your local county clerk’s website.
Voter registration
To vote, you must be registered at your current address. College students can register with their college address or with their permanent home address. It is important to note that if you have moved since the last time you voted, you need to re-register with your updated address. This is particularly important for local elections.
Online voter registration in Illinois is available until March 21 at 11:59 p.m. Illinois State University uses TurboVote to assist Redbirds with online voter registration.
If you miss the opportunity to register prior to March 21, same-day voter registration is available during early voting or on election day. Visit the Redbird Voter Guide for a list of identifications needed to register to vote.
Early voting and mail-in voting
Early voting will not be available on-campus this spring. The Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA) will serve as the county’s universal, early voting location. Early voting is now open at BCPA (600 N. East St., Bloomington), Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and will be available through April 5.
Mail-in voting is also available to people who cannot make it to a polling place or prefer to avoid crowds. A mail-in ballot can be requested through TurboVote. Allow time for your ballot to be mailed to you and make sure your ballot is postmarked by April 6 to be counted.
Need a stamp? Students can stop by CCE at 300 W. North St., Normal, to pick up a stamp for their mail-in ballot.
Voting on Election Day
On election day, April 6, you will need to vote at the polling place specific for your precinct.
The Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom will be the polling place for students and residents in precincts 8 and 30, just like back in November for the presidential election. This includes students living in Watterson Towers, Hewett-Manchester, and Tri-Tower residence halls. (Watterson Towers will not be a polling place for this election.)
Students living in Cardinal Court are in precinct 29 and will vote at Our Saviour Lutheran Church (1510 N. Main St., Normal).
Any students living off-campus should check the Redbird Voter Guide to find the address for their precinct polling place.
RedbirdsVoteLocal video contest
Another great opportunity for student voices to be heard is through CCE’s #RedbirdsVoteLocal video contest. The contest is open to all current students. Simply record a 30- to 60-second video answering the question: “Why do student voices matter in local elections?” Upload your video to social media and tag it #RedbirdsVoteLocal by March 21 for a chance to win a $25 or $50 Amazon gift card. Visit the CCE website for full details.
Redbird Voter Guide
Visit the Redbird Voter Guide for full information on the April 6 election, including links to candidate websites, deadlines, maps for precinct polling places, and more.
Civic Engagement is a core value at Illinois State, and voting is a great way to exercise your voice while making a huge difference in your community.
