Today is National Voter Registration Day, and hundreds of organizations, businesses, libraries and volunteers will be participating across the country. National Voter Registration Day is a national holiday celebrating our democracy. Every year millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don’t update their registration, or aren’t sure how to register. National Voter Registration Day wants to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote.
The Columbia College Chicago Library, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, Office of the Registrar, and College Assembly is participating in this effort. Come by the Library today and register to vote or find out more information about the voting process. Will Casey from College Advising is also a voter registrar and will be available to answer questions you may have. Below are some tools about voting, and how to find out information about candidates running for election:
VOTING
Illinois Online Voter Application (Illinois State Board of Elections)
Polling Places in Chicago (Chicago Board of Election Commissioners)
ORGANIZATIONS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Campus Vote Project: Focuses and expands its work around student voting issues. Campus Vote Project works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting. Our goal is to help campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.
Campus Vote Project (Illinois)
Rock the Vote: A nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people.
Students Learn Students Vote: A coalition which promotes civic learning and engagement on campuses across the country by providing a series of key steps and information on best practices that institutions can use to create a more voter friendly campus.
Young Invincibles: Amplifies the voices of young adults by expanding opportunities to participate in the political process, to advocate for the issues they care about, and to exercise their right to vote.
RESEARCHING ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL CANDIDATES
Columbia College Chicago Library Research Guide on Elections
Illinois State Board of Elections – Candidate information
USA.gov – voting and elections: Mission is to create and organize timely, needed government information and services and make them accessible anytime, anywhere through a variety of channels. (National)
Vote USA: Provides customized, interactive ballot choices for any address in the country allowing voters to compare candidate biographies, pictures, and positions and views on important issues. (National)
VOTE411: A “one-stop-shop” for election related information. It provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the election process. (National)
