Vote in the November 5, 2024 general election – News

With the general election fast approaching on Tuesday, November 5th, Redbirds can make their voices heard in a variety of ways. In collaboration with the Voter Engagement Coalition, over the past few months, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) has created and implemented comprehensive plans to register, educate, and encourage student voter participation, while also working to facilitate voter engagement efforts on campus. Illinois State University was recently awarded ALL IN’s Highly Established Action Plan Seal for its action plan for the 2024 election cycle.

All students registered in McLean County (except Bloomington residents) are eligible to vote at any of the on-campus early voting and Election Day locations. Students who are voting for the first time or need to update their voter registration due to a name or address change can register to vote online until Sunday, October 20, 11:59 p.m.

CCE recommends using the University’s Turbo Vote portal to register, verify registration, and learn about voting options here in Illinois and in other states. When registering, students must provide the full address of the location where they would like to vote, including the room or apartment number. If you miss the chance to register online, same-day registration is available during early voting and on Election Day in the state of Illinois. The Redbird Voter Guide provides information about on-campus polling locations and voter registration, including required identification, early voting, and voting by mail.

The Redbird Voter Guide also provides links to sample ballots and candidate information so students can be prepared and informed before voting. Recognizing that elections can lead to many difficult conversations about politics, post-election resources will be provided to help faculty and staff navigate these conversations as well.

Students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to avoid long lines on Election Day and to vote early on campus if possible. Early voting is also available at Eastland Mall and the Government Center.

Early voting on campus

Early voting is available on campus in the Founder’s Suite of the Bone Student Center on the following dates:

• Monday, October 21st – Friday, October 25th, 10am – 5pm
• Monday, October 28th – Friday, November 1st, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m

For more information, see the Redbird Voter Guide.

Voting on election day

While early voting is strongly encouraged, the Bone Student Center will also be a vote center on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. All McLean County voters, except those who live in Bloomington, may vote in the Brown Ballroom in the Bone Student Center on Election Day. Polling stations are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone standing in line by 7 p.m. is eligible to vote. Students who vote at the Bone Student Center can take photos with Reggie on Election Day and make “I Voted” buttons at CCE’s Celebration Station to share their participation and celebrate their voting experience.

Election Day watch party and election events

The Center for Civic Engagement is partnering with the School of Communication’s Social Media Analytics and Command Center, Illinois Wesleyan University’s Center for Engaged Learning, Devotees to Democracy and the Milner Library to present on November 5 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.: to host an election results viewing party at 12 p.m. on the third floor of Milner Library.

The results of the election will be broadcast by several major news networks as they come in. The School of Communication also provides observers from the Social Media Analytics Command Center to track social media trends and reactions. Participants will have the opportunity to view and discuss the results with their peers, faculty and staff, and participate in fun and informative activities while enjoying free food.

The Events Hub in the Redbird Voter Guide features many additional events scheduled before and after the election to help students, faculty and staff learn more about the democratic process, as well as sessions focused on wellness, to provide resources for coping with election-related stress.