Election Day is February 23rd -- the LAST day you can vote!
Updated 2/22/21
Make sure you vote in the Evanston Municipal Primary Election by Election Day on February 23rd -- the LAST day you can vote! Voting early or by mail are both great choices, especially during the winter and because of the pandemic. Daily early voting for the primary began Monday, February 8th and continues through 5 pm on Monday, February 22. Mail in ballots could be requested online through February 18th and must be postmarked or dropped at Skokie Courthouse drop box by February 23.
Why is there a primary for a local election? Any race that has three or more candidates will be on your primary ballot, including the Mayor's race. If any a candidate receives 50% or more of the vote, they win their race. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will face off in the Municipal Election on April 6th, 2021. All uncontested races or races with two candidates will be on the ballot in April, including many of the City Council and School Board seats. For more information about the candidates, please visit the Democratic Party of Evanston or OPAL's sites for forums and interviews and endorsements. Both the Evanston Live TV has recording of their debates and interviews.
The City Clerk is Evanston's local election official. The office works closely with the office of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, Election Division, to determine accessible polling places. City staff also function as deputy registrars to register voters, process absentee ballot applications prior to each election and certify results from all referenda and local elections.
What do you need to Early Vote or Vote on Election Day?
Government-issued photo ID is not required but is helpful if there is a question about the voter's registration, address or signature.
Voter registration
You can register to vote at all early voting sites and at your election date polling location.
Any voter who needs to register for the first time or file an address change or name change must present two forms of ID, one of which shows the voter's current address. Acceptable forms of ID include:
Illinois driver's license
Illinois state ID
Employee or student ID
Credit card
Social security card
Birth certificate
Utility bill in applicant's name
Mail postmarked to the applicant
Valid U.S. passport
Public aid ID card
Lease or rental contract
Election Day Voting: February 23
If you choose to wait until Election Day to vote, it will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd.
Find your assigned polling place using the Cook County Clerk's Your Voter Information tool. Polls are open 6 am to 7 pm.
Residents who are not registered to vote may register and cast a ballot on Election Day. Two qualifying forms of ID must be presented.
Note: there are no drop boxes to turn in absentee ballots on February 23rd. You must drop them in the mail so they are postmarked on Election Day to be counted.
Early Voting: February 8-22
Location: Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center 2100 Ridge Ave., Room G300 Evanston, IL 60201
Illinois driver's license
Illinois state ID
Employee or student ID
Credit card
Social security card
Birth certificate
Utility bill in applicant's name
Mail postmarked to the applicant
Valid U.S. passport
Public aid ID card
Lease or rental contract
Mail Voting
Voting by mail is a convenient way to cast your ballot. Any registered suburban Cook County voter may apply for a mail ballot. It is no longer necessary to provide a reason.
How to vote by mail To obtain an application to vote by mail, registered suburban Cook County voters can:
Apply online
Download and print the mail ballot application (applications are also available in Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Korean and Tagalog)
Call the Cook County Clerk's Office at 312-603-0946
Call the Evanston City Clerk's Office at 847-448-8189 for more information
The last day to request a mail ballot is February 18. All ballots must be postmarked or submitted to the Cook County Clerk's Office by February 23, 2021. There are no Evanston drop boxes for the primary, but you can take your ballot to the Skokie Courthouse and use the Clerk's drop box there by February 22. Once the Cook County Clerk receives your application and verifies your registration, they will send you a paper ballot at the address you designate on your application. After making your selections and completing the certification form on the back of the envelope and signing it, mail or deliver your ballot back to the Cook County Clerk. Please note: If the certification form (on the back of the return envelope) is not signed, your ballot will not be counted. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. Mailed ballots are processed and counted at the Cook County Clerk's central office.
Ballot not received by Election Day? If you don't receive your ballot by February 23rd (the last day your ballot can be postmarked to be counted), you can go vote in person at your polling place. Just tell the judge that you requested but did not get your ballot (if you feel safe going to vote in person). You can cast a provisional ballot, and it will be counted once they verify your mail-in ballot was not used. You can check your voter information and mail-in ballot status HERE. Also you can call the Cook County Clerk's vote-by-mail line here: 312-603-0946 to see what is going on, and find out what they can do to help you cast your vote!
Drop boxes
There are no Evanston drop boxes for the primary, but you can take your ballot to the Skokie Courthouse and use the Clerk's drop box there through 2/22. No drop box on Election Day.
More information about Mail Voting:
Eligibility - Learn who is eligible to vote by mail.
Deadlines - Important dates to remember.
Apply to Vote by Mail - Download a mail ballot application.
Disabled Voters - Absentee voting program for voters who are disabled.
Overseas and Military Voters - Learn about voting for overseas and military voters.
Nursing Home/Hospital Voting - Voting for nursing home and hospitalized voters.
Grace-period Registration and Voting Grace period registration and voting extends the registration period by allowing voters to register to vote up to three days before an election. However, guidelines limit when and where grace period registrants can vote. More
Key Dates: 2021 Consolidated Primary Election
2/08/2021 First day of early voting 2/18/2021 Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters 2/22/2021 Last day of early voting 2/22/2021 Last day of grace period registration and voting 2/23/2021 Last day mail ballots can be postmarked 2/23/2021 Primary Election Day (for race with 3+ candidates, including Mayor)
4/6/2021 Election Day See the Cook County Clerk's website for more information.
Click HERE to check your voter information.