CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — With Illinois’ 2024 primary election day fast approaching, WBBM Newsradio has compiled a guide to help voters in Chicago and across the state get the information they need to make their voice heard on March 19.
This voting guide is split into two parts: The first deals with important dates and details to help voters cast their ballot successfully. The second is full of resources to help you make an informed decision on candidate races, judicial nominees and ballot measures — such as Chicago’s Real Estate Transfer Tax Referendum.
The guide will also be updated with the latest political coverage from the WBBM Newsradio team, including in-depth interviews and analysis about this election’s most important topics.
What you need to know to vote in the 2024 Illinois primary election
When can I vote? Election Day is Tuesday, March, 19, 2024. Polling places will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. If a voter is in line when the polls close, they will still be allowed to vote.
Early voting has already started and will be available up until Election Day. Chicago early voting sites will remain open on weekdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Click here to view operating hours for other early voting sites in Illinois.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot passed on March 14. Mail-in ballots can be returned via the U.S. Postal Service or in a secured drop box at any early voting location before Election Day or at polling place on Election Day.
Where can I vote?
Chicago voters can cast their ballot on Election Day at their local polling place or at the Chicago Board of Elections Loop Supersite, located at 191 N. Clark St. The rest of Illinois residents can vote at their local polling place.
-Chicago residents, click here to find your polling place.
-Illinois residents, click here to find your polling place.
Early voting Chicago sites include: Chicago Board of Elections Loop Supersite, Chicago Board of Elections office, 69 W. Washington St, 6th floor, or the 50 ward early voting sites.
Can I vote in both the Democratic and Republican primary?
No, voters will have to request a party-specific ballot regardless of whether they register to vote in person or by mail. Voters do not have to register for a political party as part of their voter registration. In Chicago, voters will be able to choose either a Democratic, Libertarian, Republican or Nonpartisan ballot, the latter of which will include only referendum questions.
Who is eligible to vote?
In order to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by the time of the general election and a resident of the voting precinct for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
What do Illinois voters need to bring with them in order to vote?
On Election Day, registered voters do not need to produce any form of identification as long as they are registered under their current address and are voting in the correct precinct.
A voter will need to show one form of ID if an election judge challenges their right to vote or if the voter fails to include their Illinois identification, driver’s license number or Social Security number in their mail-in registration form.
A voter is required to present two forms of ID if they are either registering in person or filing an address or name change.
Here are accepted forms of ID:
-Passport or Military ID
-Driver's License or State ID card
-College/University/School/Work ID
-Vehicle registration card
-Lease, mortgage or deed to home
-Credit or debit card
-Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
-Insurance card
-Civic, union or professional membership card
-LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
-Illinois FOID card
Here are examples of mail that a voter can use as a form of ID:
-Bill, Transcript or Report Card from School
-Bank Statement, Pay Stub or Pension Statement
-Utility, Medical or Insurance Bill
-Official mail from any government agency
How do I register to vote in Illinois?
The online voter registration window has closed. Voters will have to register in-person at their polling places, for which they’ll need to meet the requirements listed above.
Click here to check your status in Chicago. Click here to check your status in Illinois.
What’s on the 2024 Illinois primary election ballot?
For voters in Chicago, one of the high-profile items on their ballot won’t have anything to do with a candidate: It’s the Chicago Real Estate Transfer Tax Referendum, which is also known as “Bring Chicago Home.” Below, we’ve put together a brief primer on what’s actually inside the proposal with a clear explanation on what your vote will mean.
In addition, this part of the guide includes a rundown of candidates and resources to help voters get informed about downballot races, such as judicial nominees.
Given that each voter’s ballot will look different depending on where they live, we’ve decided not to include a breakdown for state-level offices such as Illinois representative and Illinois senator. This nonpartisan guide from the League of Women Voters of Illinois can be easily used to see who’s running in your district.
Looking for more Illinois primary coverage? Be sure to check out WBBM’s Election Central.
Chicago’s Real Estate Transfer Tax Referendum, also known as “Bring Chicago Home”
What to know: Chicago voters will be asked to vote on amending the city’s real estate transfer tax. The proposal, known as “Bring Chicago Home,” would raise the transfer tax on properties that sell for more than $1 million by 233% — with the increase only applying to the amount that exceeds $1 million.
The proposal would also raise the transfer tax on sales of more than $1.5 million by 400%. Properties that sell for under $1 million would see transfer taxes drop by 20%. According to the referendum, the city would use the money made solely from the increased transfer tax to build permanent affordable housing and fund services aimed at helping people find and maintain permanent housing in Chicago.
If voters approve the proposal, Chicago City Council would then take another vote to officially put the policy in place.
What a ‘Yes’ vote means: You support the plan to raise Chicago’s real estate transfer tax.
What a ‘No’ vote means: You are against raising Chicago’s real estate transfer tax.
IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS: WBBM’s Looped In podcast did a deep dive into the Real Estate Transfer Tax proposal, with policy experts on both sides of the issue weighing in on whether the measure is right for Chicago. Listen to the full episode here.
President (incumbent’s party listed first, candidates listed in alphabetical order after the incumbent)
Democrat:
-Joseph R. Biden Jr. (incumbent)
-Frank “Frankie” Lozada
-Dean Phillips (dropped out of the race but may appear on some ballots)
-Marianne Williamson
Republican:
-Donald J. Trump
-Ryan L. Binkley (dropped out of the race but may appear on some ballots)
-Chris Christie (dropped out of the race but may appear on some ballots)
-Ron DeSantis (dropped out of the race but may appear on some ballots)
-Nikkie Haley (dropped out of the race but may appear on some ballots)
Read the latest political coverage from WBBM Newsradio and the Associated Press on our Election Central page.
U.S. House of Representatives (each voter’s ballot will only include the district in which they are voting)
1st District Candidates:
-Jonathan L. Jackson, Democrat (incumbent)
-Montelle L. Gaji, Republican
-Marcus Lewis, Republican
2nd District Candidates:
-Robin Kelly, Democrat (incumbent)
-Ashley Ramos, Republican
3rd District Candidates:
-Delia Ramirez, Democrat (incumbent)
-John Booras, Republican
4th District Candidates:
-Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Democrat (incumbent)
-Raymond A. Lopez, Democrat
5th District Candidates:
-Mike Quigley, Democrat (incumbent)
-Tommy Hanson, Republican
6th District Candidates:
-Sean Casten, Democrat (incumbent)
-Mahnoor Ahmad, Democrat
-Charles M. Hughes, Democrat
-Niki Conforti, Republican
7th District Candidates:
-Danny K. Davis, Democrat (incumbent)
-Nikhil Bhatia, Democrat
-Kina Collins, Democrat
-Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Democrat
-Kouri Marshall, Democrat
-Chad Koppie, Republican
8th District Candidates:
-Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat (incumbent)
-Mark Rice, Republican
9th District Candidate:
-Janice D. Schakowsky, Democrat (incumbent)
10th District Candidates:
-Jim Carris, Republican
-Brad Schneider, Democrat (incumbent)
11th District Candidates:
-Bill Foster, Democrat (incumbent)
-Qasim Rashid, Democrat
-Jerry Evans, Republican
-Susan Hathaway-Altman, Republican
-O Kent Mercado, Republican
12th District Candidates:
-Mike Bost, Republican (incumbent)
-Darren Bailey, Republican
-Preston Gabriel Nelson, Democrat
-Brian Roberts, Democrat
13th District Candidates:
-Nikki Budzinski, Democrat (incumbent)
-Thomas Clatterbuck, Republican
-Joshua Loyd, Republican
14th District Candidates:
-Lauren Underwood, Democrat (incumbent)
-Charlie Kim, Republican
-James T. “Jim” Marter, Republican
15th District Candidate:
-Mary E. Miller, Republican (incumbent)
Cook County State’s Attorney
-Clayton Harris III, Democrat
-Eileen O’Neill Burke, Democrat
-Robert W. Fioretti, Republican
-Andrew Charles Kopinski, Libertarian
MORE INFORMATION: Harris and Burke both sat down with WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore to discuss their candidacy to replace Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on “At Issue.” Listen to Harris’ episode here, and listen to Burke’s episode here.
Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court
-Iris Martinez, Democrat (incumbent)
-Mariyana Spyropoulos, Democrat
-Lupe Aguirre, Republican
-Michael Murphy, Libertarian
MORE INFORMATION: This race was highlighted on a February episode of “At Issue.” Read an excerpt from that show — which featured both Martinez and Spyropoulos — or listen to the full episode right here.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Candidates for full, six-year term (select no more than three candidates):
-Marcelino Garcia, Democrat (incumbent)
-Daniel “Pogo” Pogorzelski, Democrat (incumbent)
-Kari K. Steele, Democrat (incumbent)
-Sharon Waller, Democrat
-Toneal M. Jackson, Green Party
-Claire Connelly, Republican
-Richard F. Dale, Republican
-Brendan Ehlers, Republican
Candidates for unexpired two-year terms:
-Precious Brady-Davis, Democrat (incumbent)
-R. Cary Capparelli, Republican
GET INFORMED: Check out WBBM Newsradio’s Election Central for more on the 2024 Illinois primary.
Candidates for the Illinois Supreme Court, appellate courts, circuit courts and subcircuit courts
Depending on where they live, some Illinois primary voters will find that their ballot is mostly filled with judicial nominees. Given that few, if any, of the judicial nominees would qualify as household names for the layperson, WBBM Newsradio is recommending voters consult the Chicago Bar Association’s (CBA) Judicial Voter’s Guide.
The CBA dates back to 1874 and bills itself as one of the oldest and most active city-based bar associations in the country. Its 17,000-person membership mostly comprises lawyers and judges from Cook County and the state of Illinois. Its guide designates each candidate as: highly qualified, qualified or not recommended.
For more in-depth coverage of high-profile judicial races — and anything else regarding the 2024 primary and general elections — be sure to check out WBBM Newsradio’s Election Central page.
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