In a Primary Election, citizens vote to determine which candidate will represent their political party in the General Election.
Grace Period Voter Registration
Grace Period Voter Registration is the safety-net program for those who missed the standard deadline to register – Tuesday, February 18, 2014.
Grace Period Voter Registration is offered through March 15, 2014 and requires the voter to register or update their records in-person at the Election Board Offices, located at 69 W. Washington Street, 6th Floor. They are open from 9:00am – 5:00pm Mondays through Saturdays, and 9:00am – 3:00pm on Sunday.
Voters need to bring at least two forms of identification, and at least one ID must the address of their new/updated registration. After registering, “grace period” participants vote during the same visit. Those who use Grace Period registration/voting cannot use Early Voting, Absentee Voting or Voting in the Polling Place on Election Day and must vote during the same visit when they register.
Early Voting for the 2014 Primary Election will be offered from Monday, March 3 through Saturday, March 15, 2014 at the following locations near the 42nd Ward:
Museum of Broadcast Communications
360 N. State Street
9:00am – 5:00pm Open Mondays through Saturdays
Board of Elections
9:00am – 3:00pm Sundays
A list with all of the locations where early voting is available is viewable here .
During Early Voting:
- Voters registered in the City of Chicago may use any Early Voting site in the city, regardless of where the voters live.
- Voters don’t need a reason or excuse to use Early Voting — but voters do need to present government-issued photo identification.
- Ballots cast in Early Voting are final. After casting ballots in Early Voting, voters may not return to amend, change or undo a ballot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more than once — or to attempt to vote more than once — in the same election.
Absentee Voting Any registered voter in Illinois may cast an absentee ballot by mail. Voters do not need a reason or excuse to vote absentee by mail.
February 6, 2014 is the first day that civilian voters in the United States may apply to cast an absentee ballot in March 18, 2014 Primary Election.
Qualifications for Absentee Voting:
- Anyone registered to vote in Chicago are eligible to cast absentee ballots. However, the voter must file a completed and signed request for absentee ballot by the legal deadline.
- Applications for military and civilians overseas must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Monday, March 10, 2014.
- Applications from voters in the United States must be received at the Election Board by close of business on Thursday, March 13, 2014.
Please click here for detailed information about Absentee Voting.
Key Dates to Remember
- February 19 through March 15, 2014: In-person Grace Period Voter Registration offered at Election Board, 69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor.
- March 3 through March 15, 2014: Early Voting offered at 51 sites throughout the city
- March 10, 2014: Military/Civilian Overseas voter applications must be received by Election Board. Fax and email applications accepted.
- March 13, 2014: All other absentee applications must be received by Election Board.
- March 16 to 17, 2014: In-person absentee voting offered at the Election Board, 69 W. Washington St., 6th Floor.
- March 17, 2014: Last day absentee ballots may be postmarked and certified by the voter or delivered in person to Election Board.
- March 18, 2014: If a voter failed to submit an absentee ballot with a postmark before Election Day (March 17 or earlier), the voter may submit the unused absentee ballot to the judges at the polling place designated for that voter’s precinct and cast a ballot in person.
- April 1, 2014: Last day that a mailed absentee ballot (postmarked or certified March 17 or earlier) may arrive at the Election Board to be included in the count.
More information is available at the Chicago Board of Elections website.
