The UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center held a Voter Info 101 table event at the Student Union on February 12 and 18. Their goal was to encourage college students to register to vote, exercise their voting rights, and to better understand why civic participation is so important.

“The United States is a democracy, and we have elections coming up in November. In order to determine who is one those ballots, we need to participate in the primary on March 17, and you need to be registered in order to do that,” said Jill Hawkins-Wright, director of the Volunteer and Civic Engagement center.

The information presented at the event highlighted the voter registration process and provided guidance for students on how to navigate the Illinois State Board of Elections website and the Sangamon County Clerk’s website. Students can register online at these websites until March 1. After this deadline, students can still register at their polling place on Election Day,though completing the registration in advance can help avoid delays during the voting process.

Early voting is another way students can avoid long lines or delays at polling places. For the March 17 primary, early voting in Sangamon County began February 5 and runs until March 16. According to the Sangamon County Clerk’s website, there are two locations for early polling places. The first is the Sangamon County Election Office at 200 S. 9^th St and operation times can be found at on the county website.

The second early polling place is located here at UIS in the Student Union. This location is only open to voters residing in certain precincts, such as Precinct 14, which contains UIS. The hours for this early polling place are as follows: Wednesday-Friday, March 4^th– March 6^th 10am- 2pm; and Wednesday-Friday March 11^th-March 13^th10am- 2pm.

Voting by mail was also an option discussed at the tabling event. Hawkins-Wright explained that mail-in ballots need to be requested in advance and must arrive at the county board of elections office not later than five days before Election Day. This year, that deadline falls on March 12.

To register for the first time or file a change of address, students must bring two forms of identification, one of which must show their current address. Students living on campus may use a written letter from Residence Life as proof of address. While ID requirements can vary by polling location, election authorities recommend bringing at least one form of identification in case any questions arise.

In addition to providing technical information, this event also emphasized the importance of voting. Voting allows students to have a voice in decisions that directly affect their education, financial aid, healthcare, public transportation, and community safety. Many students may feel that their vote does not make a difference, but local and state elections are often decided by small margins. By registering and participating, students help shape policies that affect their daily lives.