Registering to vote is your first step in the voting process. Find out if you are eligible to register, where you should register as a college student, and how to register here.
In order to vote in the United States you must:
Be 18 years or older Some states may allow you to register to vote before you are 18. Please see here.
Be a U.S. Citizen
Have lived in your election precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day
Not claim the right to vote in more than one precinct (i.e., you can only register at school or at home)
If you are not sure if you are eligible to vote, please contact your local election authorities. See more here.
The choice of where to vote is ultimately up to you. Loyola Votes cannot advise students on where they should vote, but we can provide you with a list of things to consider.
Please remember: You can switch your voter registration back and forth if you live on campus and back home throughout the year. You can only hold one registration, however. For more information, see here.
Some Things to Think About:
Do you want to vote in person? Depending on where home is, this may not be feasible, making voting in Chicago a better option for you.
Remember: absentee voting is still an option should you want to vote outside of the Loyola area.
Are you more informed about candidates/current events back home or at school?
Do you feel more connected back home or at school?
To vote in a U.S. election, 49 of the 50 states require that you register to vote beforehand.
Fun fact! North Dakota is the only state that does not have voter registration.
Important: Registering With a Party In Illinois, voters do not have to register with a party to vote in the primary, but they do have to choose, publicly, which party's ballot they will vote on at the primary election. This is called an open primary.
Same-Day Registration in Chicago Illinois allows for Election Day voter registration with some caveats. To view the exact rules and the forms of identification you need, please click the link above.
Registering on Campus If you live on campus and plan to register in Chicago, please click here to see your dorm's address and where voting-related mail should be sent.
Registering to vote is your first step in the voting process. Find out if you are eligible to register, where you should register as a college student, and how to register here.
