Register, Vote Early, and Vote Easily

While it has been a struggle to vote in the US at times, today, whether you are a man or woman, no matter your race, as long as you are a citizen, voting is as easy as clicking a couple of buttons. This presidential season has captured the interest of many young people. Whether you follow the news online, on television or radio, or you just tune into the "Daily Show" once in while, you want to make sure you are registered to vote in the upcoming election. Here is the information and links you need:

If you register before the regular registration deadline, you can vote early.
Any registered voter may cast a ballot at one of the Clerk's early voting sites from Monday, October 13, 2008, through Thursday, October 30, 2008. Otherwise, you can vote at your polling place on Election Day.

If you miss the regular registration period, you can still vote until Oct. 21, 2008.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Grace-period registration and voting at the Cook County Clerk's main office:

There is only one way and one place to register during the 14-day grace period. Unregistered voters must sign up to vote in person at the Clerk's downtown Chicago office: 69 W. Washington St., Room 500. You must show two pieces of identification to register.

Grace-period voters must vote absentee. You can: 1) vote in person at the Clerk's downtown office immediately after signing up to vote; or 2) receive an absentee ballot by mail that you can complete at home and return to the Clerk's office before Election Day.

Grace-period registrants are not allowed to vote at the polls on Election Day or vote at any early voting site.