Here’s a last-minute voter guide if you haven’t cast your ballot in the Nov. 8 election
Have you decided to get out and vote?
The race for U.S. congressional seats, governor, state legislators and more will be on the line Tuesday for the midterm election, and the Belleville News-Democrat has compiled a last-minute guide for you:
Where can I find the views of the candidates running in the midterm?
More than 200 candidates are on area ballots in the election for federal, state and local offices on Tuesday.
The Belleville News-Democrat reached out to about 140 candidates in contested races and asked them to complete a questionnaire.
You can find their answers in the BND Voter Guide at our site by typing this URL - bit.ly/BNDguide - in the address bar of your web browser.
What time will the polls open and close in southwest Illinois on Tuesday?
Polls will be open in St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Clinton, Bond, Washington and Randolph counties at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Can I vote in Illinois if I’m in line when polls close?
Yes. All voters in line by 7 p.m. will be able to cast their ballot. Voters must visit their assigned precinct.
Is early voting still available?
The early voting period ends on the evening of Monday, Nov. 7. Hours and locations vary so check with your local election office. You can also see sample ballots on the websites of the area election offices.
Can I still mail in my ballot?
Yes, but the ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 8, and arrive within 14 days to be counted.
Where can I find my polling place?
Check your voter registration card. If you can’t find that card, you can go to the Illinois State Board of Elections website, click on the “Information for voters” tab on the upper left and then click on “Registration/polling place lookup.” Then type in your ZIP code and street address to see your polling place.
What if I see something that concerns me at a polling place?
The Illinois State Board of Elections recommends that you speak with an election judge at the polling place. In St. Clair County, you can call the county clerk’s office at 618-825-2366 to report a concern. You also can send an email to VoterIntegrity@stclaircountyil.gov
What’s the deadline for mail-in ballots?
It must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 8 and it must arrive by Nov. 22 to be counted in the final, official tally.
When can I put my mail-in ballot in a drop box?
It must be dropped by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Can I drop off my mail-in ballot at an Illinois polling place?
No, but you can vote at your polling place if you surrender the mail-in ballot to election judges at the polling place.
What do I do if the ballot drop off box is full?
St. Clair County Clerk Tom Holbrook said the county’s box in front of the St. Clair County Building at 10 Public Square in Belleville is checked twice a day by election officials. He said the box usually is only about 10% full when ballots are collected from it.
Can I still vote Nov. 8 if I’m not registered?
Yes. Several sites in the metro-east are offering grace period registration, but you must register and vote in the same visit.
If I have a physical disability, how can I get help at my polling place?
You can go to the polling place with a companion who can help you complete a ballot if the person signs an affidavit.
What are the COVID-19 guidelines at polling places?
There are no restrictions for this election. Workers at the St. Clair County polls will have sanitizers available.
What’s the weather forecast for Tuesday?
The National Weather Service forecasts a high of 71 with partly sunny skies.
Where can I get election results?
Go to bnd.com on Tuesday night to get initial, unofficial results from across the region. You can use these unofficial results to get a sense of the winner in races that are not close. But we won’t have official election results on Tuesday night. Final results - a combination of early voting and Tuesday voting - won’t be complete until they are certified by election officials.
Some of Tuesday night’s unofficial results will also be in Wednesday’s e-edition, and follow-up information will appear in Thursday’s print edition. You can also help with our coverage on Election Day by sharing your voting experience, questions and tips via email at Elections2022@bnd.com.
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
