The March 19 primary election is quickly approaching for Illinois, and there are multiple ways Redbirds can exercise civic engagement this election season. In partnership with the Voter Engagement Coalition, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) creates comprehensive plans to register, educate, and encourage student voter turnout while working to facilitate voter engagement efforts on campus. Illinois State University was recently recognized as one of 258 institutions in the country designated as a Voter Friendly Campus for these efforts.
For the primary election, all students registered in McLean County (except Bloomington residents) are eligible to vote at one of the on-campus locations for early voting and Election Day. First-time voters can register to vote online through 11:59 p.m. on March 3. If you miss the chance to register online, same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day. The Redbird Voter Guide contains information about campus polling locations, voter registration, required ID, early voting, voting by mail, election day, and ballot information.
The Center for Civic Engagement encourages students, faculty, and staff to avoid long lines on election day and vote early with locations on campus. Early voting is also available at Eastland Mall and at the Government Center.
Early voting on campus
Bone Student Center, Founder’s Suite
- March 4–8, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- March 11–15, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Watterson Towers, Rosa Parks Room
- March 4–8, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- March 11–15, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
More information is available through the Redbird Voter Guide.
Voting on Election Day
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.-7 p.m. All those 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.
Comprehensive election information is available in the Redbird Voter Guide for all to review.
Primaries and Popcorn
The Center for Civic Engagement is partnering with the School of Communication, the Student Government Association, the Student Legislative Action Coalition, and Heartland Community College’s Political Science Club to host “Primaries and Popcorn,” an election result watch party, on the evening of March 19.
Results from the primary elections in Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Kansas, and Arizona will be broadcast from multiple major news networks as they come in, and the School of Communication is providing monitors from the Social Media Analytics Command Center to track social media trends and reactions. Attendees will have the opportunity to watch and discuss results with their peers, faculty, and staff, as well as learn about the impact of the primary results on the general election from local, state, national, and global perspectives. Join us in SCH 138 any time between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on March 19 to check the results and consider the implications for the general election in November.
