This is Part 2 of a three-part series. Part 1 offered a guide to becoming a registered voter. Part 3 will list the offices that will be on the ballot for Lansing voters.
By Josh Bootsma and Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (September 25, 2020) – 2020 voters have several options for casting their ballots. While Election Day has been the traditional preferred choice, mail-in voting and early voting may take a higher priority this election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The information below is intended to describe the choices and help voters make the most of their voting privileges in the November 3 election.
Mail-in Voting
In light of the safety concerns that voters may have this year, Illinois and Cook County have made a point of highlighting their mail-in voting options. Mail-in voting is open to all Cook County residents who are registered to vote. The application for a mail-in ballot is available HERE. In order to fill out the application you will need:
- Your driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your social security number
- The address where you would like the ballot to be mailed
- An email address
A paper copy of the application can be accessed in English HERE, or in Spanish HERE. Mail-in applications must be received by Oct. 29 at the Cook County Clerk’s Office.
Once approved, you will receive a ballot in the mail, which you will fill out. The ballot must be postmarked or deposited in an official mail ballot drop box before election day. A map of drop boxes is available HERE. The Lansing Public Library is a drop box location and will begin accepting mail ballots on Oct. 19.
Early Voting
The Lansing Public Library (2750 Indiana Avenue) is an Early Voting location for the November 3 General Election, for Suburban Cook County Illinois voters only. Election officials will set up in the Quiet Room in the library’s upper level, and the Quiet Room will be closed for regular use during early voting, which runs from Monday, October 19, through Monday, November 2.
New voters can also register to vote at this location. Early Voting/Voter Registration hours are:
- Monday, October 19: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 20: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 21: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 23: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 24: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25: CLOSED
- Monday, October 26: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 27: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, October 30: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 2: 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, November 3, voters will vote at their assigned polling places.
Election Day Voting
Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day, and then voting will be available only at assigned polling places, from 6:00am–7:00pm. There are 8 polling places in Lansing, serving 20 precincts. Lansing Presbyterian Church and St Anthony Assisted Living are not polling places this year, and precincts that were assigned there in previous years have been reassigned for this election:
- Bethel Church (3500 Glenwood-Lansing Rd)—Bloom Township Precincts 5, 14, 18, and 44
- Calvin Coolidge School (17845 Henry St)—Thornton Township Precincts 16, 56, and 65
- First Church PCA (3134 Ridge Rd)—Thornton Township Precincts 43, 47, and 57
- Lansing Police Department (2710 170th)—Thornton Township Precinct 17
- On Election Day, Lansing Public Library (2750 Indiana Ave) is the polling place for Thornton Township Precincts 18 and 68. It is only during Early Voting that all Lansing residents can vote at the library, regardless of precinct.
- New Hope Church (3642 Lake St)—Thornton Township Precinct 51
- Oak Glen School (2101 E. 182nd St)—Thornton Township Precincts 19, 50, 114, and 117
- Reavis School (17121 Roy St)—Thornton Township Precincts 13 and 61
If you have a Voter ID, your precinct number is printed on it. The Cook County website also provides easy access to polling information—voters can input their address and last name, and the site will provide the name and address of the appropriate polling place, along with a map. Visit www.cookcountyclerk.com/service/polling-places and follow the instructions and links.
