Do You Know Joe (Biden)?: President-Elect
To see the materials the library owns about Joe Biden, click on the picture within the blog post.
Election information
2020 Post-Election Discussion (video)
Political Science professors Merri Fefles-Dunkle and Kevin Navratil discuss the results from the 2020 Presidential, House, Senate, and Graduated Income Tax Amendment.
2020 Pre-Election Panel
Political Science professors Merri Fefles-Dunkle, Dr. Deron Schreck, and Kevin Navratil will discuss the 2020 Presidential, House, Senate, and Graduated Income Tax Amendment.
Voting for Judges
Voting for judges has always seemed weird for me. How does the average person know if a judge is qualified? This is especially difficult in Cook County where there are so many judges (62 on the ballot). Worry not, the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screenings has compiled a grid that will help you. Each candidate is rated by up to 12 different Bar Associations on whether they are qualified and/or recommended. They have a separate page that summaries judicial candidate recommendations; it even states which associations said no. If you want to look more in depth, Injustice Watch has a Check your Judges page. If you live in another county, the Illinois State Bar Association reviews judicial candidates by county.
The Electoral College: How does it work and should it be updated?(video)
Political Science professor Kevin Navratil will discuss why the Electoral College was created, the process of electing the president, and benefits and drawbacks of this electoral system versus electing the president by a nationwide popular vote. This event is organized by the MVCC Democracy Commitment.
Voting Information for the November 3, 2020 Election
Key Dates for the November 3, 2020 Presidential Election
| Date | Event |
| 10/6/2020 | Voter registration closes for deputy registrars and local election officials |
| 10/7/2020 | First day of grace period registration and voting |
| 10/18/2020 | Last day to register to vote by online application |
| 10/19/2020 | First day of early voting |
| 10/29/2020 | Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters |
| 11/2/2020 | Last day of early voting |
| 11/2/2020 | Last day of grace period registration and voting |
| 11/3/2020 | Last day mail in ballots can be postmarked or dropped off in a secure Mail Ballot Drop Box |
| 11/3/2020 | Election Day |
Vote by mail
Any registered suburban Cook County voter may request a mail ballot using the online application. Once your registration is verified and the application is processed, a paper ballot will be sent to the mailing address you designate in your application. The deadline to apply is five days before the election.
The Clerk’s Office will offer secure mail ballot drop boxes. Additionally, the Clerk’s office will offer an Election Day Drop Box in Daley Plaza in Chicago. Ballots may also be returned via USPS.
For the November 3, 2020 Presidential Election, traditional Early Voting will take place October 19-November 2.
Early Voting locations and hours in suburban Cook County
If you live in the City of Chicago please visit chicagoelections.com for their Early Voting locations and other important information.
Election Day Voting
Registered suburban Cook County voters can only vote in their home precinct on Election Day.
Registered and unregistered Cook County residents can find their assigned polling place with the Your Voter Information tool.
Residents who are not registered to vote may register and cast a ballot on Election Day with same-day registration and voting. Those who wish to register on Election Day must present two qualifying forms of ID.
A voter who needs ID, but who cannot present ID, may cast a Provisional Ballot on Election Day. In order for that Provisional Ballot to be counted, the voter must present ID within 7 days of the election to the Cook County Clerk’s office, 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago IL 60602.
Source COOK COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE
Debunking Electoral College Myths
In most U.S. elections, the winner of the popular vote is the winner of the election. As we have seen many times, that is not always the case in the presidential election due to our Electoral College system. In particular, the winner-take-all laws in many states have resulted in the winner of the popular vote losing the election. This has led to millions of votes being effectively ignored and swing states, and swing state issues, carrying more weight than others.
Many people, for many years, have felt that the Electoral College system is unfair. It is a system that came about because of slavery and the result is that some votes count more than others. Since 1797, there have been roughly 800 attempts in Congress to get rid of the system. These have come from states both large and small and from both sides of the aisle. Defenders of the Electoral College point to reasons like: It protects small states. It’s what The Founders wanted. The way it works is written into the Constitution. Democrats will always win without it.
These are all myths. There is a way to fix it. Watch this short, informative video from The New York Times to find out more. To delve even deeper into the topic, these books from the MVCC Library are a great next step.
Illinois’ primary election continues through today
The March 17, 2020, Illinois primary election includes voting for the Democratic presidential primary, the race for Cook County State’s attorney, the Republican primary for U.S. Senate and the Democratic primary for Illinois Supreme Court, plus others. To register on election day, residents must bring two forms of identification, one with a current address, to your polling place for same-day voting. Polling places throughout Illinois are scheduled to be open until 7:00 PM today.
Prepare for the Primary: Find Your Polling Place and Research Candidates
The Illinois Primary Election is next week on Tuesday, March 17th! Here are a few links that may be useful as you prepare to vote:
- Look up your polling place on the Illinois State Board of Elections site.
- Find early voting locations, dates, and times near you.
- Research the candidates:
- The Chicago Bar Association offers an evaluation of judicial candidates’ professional qualifications, regardless of political affiliation. Read about their extensive evaluation process and download the Pocket Guide.
- The Chicago Sun Times has put together an extensive voter guide for the March 17th Primary, with detailed information on local primary races.
- Ballotpedia offers an easy tool to view all the races and candidates, from federal to municipal, on your ballot.
Want to do even more research? Check out our Voting Research Guide!
Super Tuesday: 2020 Nomination Election Panel (video)
Political Science Professor’s Deron Schreck, Merri Fefles, and Kevin Navratil will examine the 2020 Nomination Elections, key races, the Illinois Primary and any other questions you may have about the 2020 Nomination Election. This is event is open to all and is sponsored by the by the Democracy Commitment.