When are the 2019 Chicago runoff elections?
The runoff elections will take place on Tuesday, April 2.
What's a runoff election?
In order to win an elected position in the 2019 municipal elections, a candidate must have received a majority, or more than 50 percent of the votes. If no candidate won on Feb. 26 in a race, the top two candidates in the race will compete in a runoff election on April 2, 2019.
What positions are being decided in the 2019 runoff municipal elections?
Can I vote in the runoff election even if I didn’t vote in February?
Yes.
How do I vote?
You can vote in person on Election Day, you can vote early at designated polling places, or you can vote by mail.
Do I need to register to vote?
Yes.
How do I register to vote?
Go here to get started or check and see if you are registered. If you are registered already, it will also give you your polling place location and absentee ballot options.
If you’re not already registered, you can register online, via snail-mail, in-person at Early Voting, on Election Day, or at the Secretary of State’s office.
If you are registering in person, you must present two forms of ID, one of which must show your current address. Chicago voters may use any of the dozens of Early Voting locations in the city:
- At the Loop Super Site starting March 15; and
- At the 50 ward sites starting March 18.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
Election Day registration is also available on April 2, but only at the polling place assigned to your home precinct. (Just to be safe, we recommend registering in advance!)
Where do I vote (how to find your “polling place”)?
Enter your address here, and it will tell you where to vote. Remember, your vote won't count if you vote in the wrong ward. If you've moved since the last election, make sure you update your registration.
What time are the polls open in Chicago on Election Day?
6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April 2.
Can I vote early?
Yes. There are two windows of in-person early voting starting March 15, described below. Remember: A government-issued photo ID is not required but is helpful if there is a question about your registration, address or signature, or if there are two voters with the same or similar names at the same address.
Registration services are available at every Early Voting site, and any voter who needs to register for the first time, or file an address update or a name change must show two forms of ID, one of which shows the voter's current address.
That ballot you cast in Early Voting is final.
In-person Early Voting, 1st Window: For all registered voters, in-person Early Voting is available March 15 - 17, at the Loop Super Site, 175 W. Washington. Here’s the schedule:
- Friday, March 15 - Saturday, March 16: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 17: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Hours of Operation
- Monday, March 18 - Saturday, March 23: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 24: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday, March 30: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 31: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Monday, April 1: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Loop Super Site: 175 W. Washington
- Ward 1: Goldblatt's Building, 1615 W Chicago
- Ward 2: Near North Library, 310 W Division
- Ward 3: Hall Branch Library, 4801 S Michigan
- Ward 4: King Community Ctr., 4314 S Cottage Grove (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 5: Jackson Park, 6401 S Stony Island
- Ward 6: Dist. 3 Police Station, 7040 S Cottage Grove
- Ward 7: Jeffrey Manor Library, 2401 E 100th St
- Ward 8: Olive Harvey College, 10001 S Woodlawn
- Ward 9: Palmer Park, 201 E 111th St
- Ward 10: Vodak/Eastside Library, 3710 E 106th St
- Ward 11: Dist. 9 Police Station, 3120 S Halsted
- Ward 12: McKinley Park, 2210 W Pershing (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 13: West Lawn Park, 4233 W 65th St
- Ward 14: Archer Heights Library, 5055 S Archer
- Ward 15: Gage Park, 2411 W 55th St
- Ward 16: Lindbloom Park, 6054 S Damen
- Ward 17: Thurgood Marshall Library, 7506 S Racine
- Ward 18: Wrightwood Ashburn Library, 8530 S Kedzie
- Ward 19: Mount Greenwood Park, 3721 W 111th St (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 20: Bessie Coleman Library, 731 E 63rd St
- Ward 21: Woodson Library, 9525 S Halsted St
- Ward 22: Toman Library, 2708 S Pulaski
- Ward 23: Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W 63rd Pl
- Ward 24: St. Agatha Parish, 3147 W Douglas Blvd
- Ward 25: Chinatown Library, 2100 S Wentworth
- Ward 26: Humboldt Park Library, 1605 N Troy
- Ward 27: Eckhart Park, 1330 W Chicago
- Ward 28: W. Side Learning Ctr, 4624 W Madison (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 29: Amundsen Park, 6200 W Bloomingdale
- Ward 30: Kilbourn Park, 3501 N Kilbourn
- Ward 31: Portage Cragin Library, 5108 W Belmont
- Ward 32: Bucktown-Wicker Park Library, 1701 N Milwaukee
- Ward 33: McFetridge Sports Center, 3843 N California
- Ward 34: W. Pullman Library, 830 W 119th
- Ward 35: NEIU El Centro, 3390 N Avondale
- Ward 36: West Belmont Library, 3104 N Narragansett
- Ward 37: West Chicago Ave Library, 4856 W Chicago
- Ward 38: Hiawatha Park, 8029 W Forest Preserve
- Ward 39: North Park Vill. Admin., 5801 N Pulaski
- Ward 40: Budlong Woods Library, 5630 N Lincoln
- Ward 41: Roden Library, 6083 N Northwest Highway (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 42: Museum of Broadcast Communications, 360 N State
- Ward 43: Lincoln Park Library, 1150 W Fullerton
- NEW: Ward 44: Dist. 19 Police Station, 850 W Addison
- Ward 45: Dist. 16 Police Station, 5151 N Milwaukee
- Ward 46: Truman College, 1145 W Wilson
- Ward 47: Welles Park, 2333 W Sunnyside (On April 1, this site will remain open through 7 pm.)
- Ward 48: Edgewater Library, 6000 N Broadway
- Ward 49: Pottawattomie Park, 7340 N Rogers
- Ward 50: Warren Park, 6601 N Western
- Chicago State University, 9501 S M L King Dr
- UIC Student Center, 750 S Halsted
- Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N St Louis
Do I need an ID to vote in the Chicago Municipal Elections?
It depends. You must bring a government-issued photo ID if you've changed your address or are voting for the first time at your polling place
You do NOT need a photo ID if you are voting on Election Day and have voted from your current address before.
Do I need to bring my voter ID card from the Illinois Board of Elections?
No, but you may need to provide a government-issued photo ID as explained above.
Can I vote by mail?
Yes. Anyone can vote by mail. However, in order to receive a ballot, you will have to submit a Vote By Mail application. Applications can be submitted online or at the offices of the Board of Elections. The deadline for requesting a ballot is 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. You can find more information at the Chicago elections website.
Can I vote online or via social media?
No. Sorry.
Can I vote if I have a criminal record?
Yes. Illinois restores an individual’s voting rights upon release from prison but ex-convicts do need to re-register. People on parole or probation are eligible to vote. Detainees awaiting trial in jail also have a right to vote. Learn more here.
Will there be ballot referendum questions on April 2?
No.
Can I write in a candidate on April 2?
No, there will not be write-in blanks in the runoff election.
Who should I vote for?
That is, of course, entirely up to you. While the Chi.vote Collective does not endorse candidates for public office, we can recommend tools to help you decide:
- Got questions? You can ask us anything.
- Want to test your readiness? You can take our quiz.
- A comprehensive voter guide to research candidates, races and issues.
What is the schedule for candidate debates and forums?
There are a variety of mayoral forums and debates planned. Many require advanced registration or membership in a hosting club. However, several live mayoral candidate forums are available on television or online.
You can find a full list at Documenters.org, which is produced by Chi.vote Collective partner City Bureau.
How do I get in touch with an election official with the city?
You can call the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago: 312.269.7900
Text telephone (TTY): 312.269.0027
Voter help-line (Español): 312.223.0820
Voter help-line (Polski): 312.223.0823
Who do I call on Election Day if I have problems voting or witness voter intimidation?
Call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE, a toll-free hotline staffed by nonpartisan legal volunteers who can help you on the spot. Non-English speakers can use the following hotlines:
- 888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish)
- 844-YALLA-US (Arabic)
- 888-API-VOTE (Asian & Pacific Islander languages)
Election Protection is the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition whose local efforts are led by Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
What’s the Chi.vote Collective?
The Chi.vote Collective is a new group of nonpartisan media and civic organizations that believe in fostering a safer, more prosperous and more equitable and connected Chicago by creating content and tools of the highest quality and accessibility around city elections. The founding partners of the Collective are the Better Government Association, Block Club Chicago, The Chicago Reporter, The Daily Line and The Triibe.