Chicago voter registration: How, where, when and who can register

The national “holiday” started in 2012 as a way to drive voter turnout.

By Alice Bazerghi

Complete coverage of the local and national primary and general election, including results, analysis and voter resources to keep Chicago voters informed.

Do you know if you’re registered to vote? National Voter Registration Day is next week.

The national “holiday” started in 2012 to prevent people from learning they’re not eligible to vote when they get to the polls — whether they missed a deadline, failed to update their registration or just don’t know how to register, according to National Voter Registration Day’s website.

The day is recognized every fourth Tuesday in September, which this year falls on Sept. 24.

If you’re a Chicagoan who needs to register to vote, here’s what you need to know.

Check to see if you’re registered

Don’t know if you’re registered? Check your status at the Cook County Clerk’s Office website. You’ll just have to enter your full name and address.

Who can register to vote?

To register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and be born on or before Nov. 3, 2002. You must also have lived in your precinct at least 30 days before the election you’re voting in and not claim the right to vote anywhere else. You cannot be in prison serving time for a conviction.

What you need to register

To register to vote online or in person, you’ll need two forms of ID, one of which shows your current address.

If you prefer to mail in your registration, print and fill out the registration form. You’ll need either a driver’s license number or a state identification number. Without either of those, you’ll need to provide the last four digits of your social security number along with a copy of an ID, a copy of a current utility bill or another document that shows your name and address. If you’re a college student, you can use your student ID card with a lease or contract that shows your name and current address.