With the 2024 Illinois primary election approaching on Tuesday, March 19, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) is pleased to offer resources for voting and to promote electoral participation so that students are able to make informed decisions to elect candidates who best represent their interests.
“We have a very strong foundation of voter engagement as a nationally recognized Voter Friendly Campus,” said Katy Strzepek, CCE director. “I am excited for our team to build upon that foundation to encourage students to make their voices heard in the primary election.” Continuing the Center’s electoral engagement efforts to promote voter registration, education, and turnout are Rachel Waring-Sparks, assistant director of assessment; Aizirek Muktarbek, graduate assistant for civic education and political engagement; and Allie High, undergraduate elections intern.
The Redbird Voter Guide has been updated with links to key voter information, including details on candidates running in the primary election, descriptions of positions being elected, and the different ways to vote. It includes a voter toolkit with nonpartisan resources for students, faculty, and staff looking to support electoral engagement and make informed decisions as they prepare to vote.
Instructors and students can also request a presentation to learn more about voting. Presentations can range from 5 to 45 minutes and be delivered in classes, registered student organization (RSO) meetings, and department meetings. They cover a range of topics but usually target general voter information and the importance of voting.
The primary election
The next election in Illinois is a primary election on March 19, 2024.
A primary is an election that takes place before the general election to decide which candidates will be on the general election ballot. The March 19 primary will contribute to determining the candidates for the general election on November 5.
“Data shows that primary elections have lower turnout than general elections, and usually the people who vote in the primary are more partisan than general election voters,” Waring-Sparks said. “That leads to more hyperpartisan candidates that represent the ends of the political spectrum, contributing to the increased political polarization we see today. When we have higher turnout, we get candidates that are representative of more of the population.”
Illinois has a partisan primary, meaning that voters must declare a preferred political party at the polling place to vote in that party’s primary. The winner of a primary in Illinois is the candidate who wins the most votes of the votes cast. For state, county, and local offices, that candidate wins that party’s nomination for that office and will be on the ballot for the general election. For the presidential primary, Illinois delegates will attend the party’s nominating convention over the summer and cast their votes for the candidate who won Illinois’s primary election. Primary elections often also include local referendums, although there are none on the ballot in McLean County this year.
Casting your ballot
Voters have the option to vote by mail, vote early, or vote on Election Day.
Voting by mail is a great option for those who may not be able to make it to their polling place or would rather take time at home to research each race. March 3 is the last day to request a Vote by Mail ballot electronically. Vote by mail ballots must be dropped at a drop box or postmarked by Election Day. If your ballot needs a stamp, stop by CCE to pick up a stamp and mail your ballot!
For those who vote in person, Illinois allows voters to register to vote at the same time they choose to vote early or vote on Election Day. The Redbird Voter Guide has information on how to register to vote for both on-campus and off-campus residents.
Early voting on campus will take place at the Bone Student Center Founders Suite and Watterson Towers Rosa Parks Room from March 4-15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Early voting will also be available at Eastland Mall and the McLean County Government Center beginning on February 8. Hours for those locations are available from the McLean County Board of Elections.
The Bone Student Center is a vote center on Election Day, March 19, 2024. All McLean County voters, except those who live in Bloomington, can vote in the Brown Ballroom at the Bone Student Center on Election Day. Polling place hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and all of those who are in line by 7 p.m. are entitled to vote. Students who vote at the Bone Student Center can take photos at CCE’s Celebration Station to share their participation, with props celebrating their voting experience.
Reflecting on CCE’s commitment to voter engagement, Waring-Sparks said, “It’s important to us that students view voting as something to be proud of and excited about. Political engagement is a key method of civic engagement, and your vote is one of the most powerful tools to contribute to social change in our democracy.”
