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Thank you for visiting the 42nd Ward
Democratic Party's website.



The 42nd Ward encompasses the Gold Coast, River West, Streeterville, Near North, River North and Loop neighborhoods on Chicago's north side. The 42nd Ward is an economic engine for the City, the gateway to many of the City's visitors and a great place to live and raise a family. The Ward houses some of the finest restaurants, cultural institutions and shopping in the world. However, the Ward's diverse and talented citizens are its real strength. The Ward is blessed with many seniors who have personally had a role in building Chicago, with many residents who are now growing, expanding and ensuring that Chicago remains a first class international City and with many students who will one day be shaping Chicago and, hopefully eclipsing the wonderful work of prior generations. This dynamic base of residents is the Ward's true strength and, united, this Ward is able to achieve many things.

 

Voting Information

Voters are allowed to cast their ballots prior to Election Day -- either in person at an Early Voting site or by mail through Absentee Voting.  The first day that voters may apply to cast an absentee ballot is Sept. 23rd and early voting begins on  Oct. 12th.

Voter  Registration

In Chicago, voters may register or change the address on their registrations:

 · by submitting this mail-in form to register / file a change of address
 · in person at 69 W. Washington St., Sixth Floor.
 · at any Secretary of State's office where driver's licenses and state IDs are issued.
 · through an active deputy registrar affiliated with a local organization, such as a political party, ward office, business, etc.
 
After the form is processed, the Chicago Board of Elections (CBOE) will mail you a new voter card.

Tues., Oct. 5, 2010 is the deadline to register to be eligible to cast a ballot in the Nov. 2, 2010 General Election.

Click here to check the status of your registration by entering your address and last name.



Vote By Mail (Absentee) - Please Note New Rules That Make it Easier to Participate

The first day that voters may apply to cast an absentee ballot is Sept. 23, 2010.  All persons registered to vote in Chicago are eligible to cast absentee ballots. The voter must file a completed and signed request for an absentee ballot by the legal deadline.

Easier to Vote and No Excuse Needed
 
Under a new law, voters in Illinois no longer need a reason or excuse to vote absentee.

In addition, the following unregistered voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot: 
1.  Members of the Armed Forces or Merchant Marine and their spouses and dependents, whether serving in the United States or abroad. 
2.  U.S. citizens and their spouses or dependents, whose permanent residences are in Chicago but who will be temporarily residing abroad on Election Day. 
3.  U.S. citizens (not their spouses or dependents) who maintained a residence in Chicago immediately prior to their departure from the United States.

 - Applications from voters in the United States must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Oct. 28. NOTE: Original forms must be submitted by mail, certified courier or in person. Forms from civilians in the United States cannot be accepted by email.

 - Applications from military and civilians overseas must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Oct. 22. 

Absentee Voting by Mail
The most common method of obtaining an absentee ballot is by mail. Although every effort is made to process ballot applications quickly, mail delays may still occur. Therefore, voters should consider applying long before the deadline or using some form of express mail to minimize lost time due to delivery. Absentee applications can be processed no earlier than Sept. 23, 2010.

Please note: Original absentee applications must be submitted by mail, certified courier or in person to the Election Board. 

Step 1 - Obtain and complete an absentee ballot application and return the application to the Board at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 600, Chicago IL 60602.  Absentee ballot applications also can be picked up at the Board offices.

Voters may call 1-312-269-7967 to request an absentee ballot application be mailed. The application must include the voter's name and registration address, as well as the address where the absentee ballot should be mailed.

Upon receipt of the completed original application (no emails), the Election Board mails an absentee ballot to the voter (or as soon as ballots are available from the printer.)

Absentee voters whose applications do not arrive by the deadline must vote absentee in person at the Election Board or vote at their polling places.

Step 2 - Vote the absentee ballot and return it to the Board for Processing.

Follow all enclosed instructions and make sure to vote in secret. A voted absentee ballot must be postmarked (or in the absence of a postmark, certified by the voter) on or before Nov. 1, 2010 in order to be counted. The Board must receive the returned ballot by Nov. 16, 2010 for the ballot to be counted.

The ballot may be returned personally, by an immediate relative, by U.S. Mail or by a state licensed motor carrier.

Once an absentee ballot has been returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. An absentee voter cannot vote in person in the polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the absentee ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges or completes an affidavit stating the absentee ballot was never received by the voter.

NOTE: Chicago voters should submit their applications for absentee ballots and return their voted absentee ballots directly to the Chicago Election Board, 69 W. Washington St., Ste. 600, Chicago IL 60602 -- and not to any other address.

Absentee Voting in Person
Any qualified voter may cast an absentee ballot in person in the offices of the Board of Election Commissioners the weekend before the election and the day before the election.

In-Person Absentee Voting will be offered at 69 W. Washington St., during these hours:
- Fri., Oct. 29: 9 am - 5 pm
- Sat., Oct. 30: 9 am - noon
- Sun., Oct. 31: 9 am - noon
- Mon., Nov. 1: 9 am - 5 pm


Early Voting

Early voting for the 2010 General Election will be offered Oct. 12 through Oct. 28, 2010. To vote early, just bring a government-issued photo ID card. To avoid lines, we recommend avoiding the first and last days of early voting.

Chicago voters may vote at any of the city's 54 sites, regardless of where they live.  Hours for all sites are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

You can vote early downtown at the Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level Conference Room.  This location is also open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Early  voting sites in the 42nd Ward:  (1) Access Living 115 W. Chicago Ave. and (2) Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level Conference Room

 

Grace Period Voting

If you miss the standard Oct. 5 deadline for registration or if you need to change your address, "Grace Period Voter Registration" is the safety net program offered through Tues., Oct. 26, 2010.

Grace Period Voter Registration requires voters to register or to update their address or other records in person at the Election Board offices at 69 W. Washington St. on the Sixth Floor. The grace-period registrant then votes a form of absentee ballot. Voters should have two forms of identification, at least one of which includes the current (or new) address.

By law, the Grace Period Voter Registration program will close on Tues., Oct. 26, 2010.

Hours for Grace Period Voter Registration at 69 W. Washington St., Sixth Floor are:
 -- Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 -- Saturday-Sunday: 9 a.m. to noon

Read more here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hear these questions all the time. As your Committeeman, my job is to organize Democrats who live and work in the 42nd Ward and to promote Democratic issues, causes and good candidates such as Barack Obama, Brendan Reilly, Anita Alvarez, Will Burns and other qualified and talented leaders.


Currently, Democrats outnumber Republicans 4 to 1 in the Ward. However, we must not rest on past election successes, but continue to organize and promote the Democratic Party's values and candidates. What is certain - both here in the 42nd Ward and across our nation - is that Democrats outnumber Republicans by large margins. Most Democratic campaigns are based upon finding positive issues that appeal to voters' optimism and, at the same time, our candidates strive to unite diverse groups of people by utilizing these issues. Thus, the game plan is very simple, if the local Democratic Party can simply get its message out, remains vigilant in registering new voters, and ensures that all of our voters get a chance to exercise their right to vote on election day - the Democratic Party wins almost every time. However, to accomplish this mission requires two things: (1) organization and (2) resources. Therefore I am asking you to get involved in some way with 42nd Ward Democratic Party: by working as a volunteer registering voters or getting out the vote, serving as an election judge, organizing an event, attending a fundraiser, helping us organize online or by making an online donation. In a very short period of time, you can make a positive difference in this Ward, this City and this Nation but we need you get directly involved. Together, we can and will make a difference.

Sincerely,


John Corrigan
Committeeman, 42nd Ward Democratic Party



 

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