Welcome to the Windy City Times Primary Election Guide leading up to the March 15 election and appearing in the March 2 and 9 print and online editions of Windy City Times. The Election Guide will feature charts, features and interviews. Windy City Times itself does not endorse candidates.
1. 2016 Printable Election Guide Charts include questionnaire scores, endorsements and/or ratings by groups like Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization, the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, Reclaim Chicago, Equality Illinois PAC, Chicago NOW PAC, Personal PAC and, for the judicial races, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Cook County Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Illinois State Bar Association, Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, and Women's Bar Association of Illinois. See the Printable Election Guide Charts at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/WCT_2016_webprimaryelectionchart.pdf .
2. Features such as "LGBTs in the Mix", which spotlights members of the LGBT community who are running for office, at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-LGBTs-in-the-mix/54438.html .
3. News and interviews concerning the presidential and other intriguing races:
Hillary Clinton gets backing from some Illinois LGBTs at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Hillary-Clinton-gets-backing-from-some-Illinois-LGBTs/54484.html .
Illinois LGBT Sanders endorser list released at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Illinois-LGBT-Sanders-endorser-list-released/54488.html .
Trans activists unite for Clinton db2.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php .
The race for Cook County state's attorney between embattled incumbent Anita Alvarez and challengers Kim Foxx and Donna More is of perticular interest. Interview with Alverez at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Alvarez-battles-to-keep-states-attorney-post/54493.html . Interview with Kim Foxx at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Foxx-battles-to-unseat-Alvarez/54436.html and Donna More at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-More-says-shell-bring-solutions-to-states-attorneys-office/54437.html .
The Democratic primary competition for U.S. senator that involves U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, state Sen. Napoleon Harris III and onetime Chicago Urban League president Andrea Zopp. Zopp's interview ran in the Feb. 24 issue of WCT and is available at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Zopp-looks-to-unseat-Kirk-for-Senate-post/54393.html . )
See Windy City Times' political index at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gaynewsarticles.php .
Individuals candidate interview links are listed below:
Juliana Stratton on resolving conflict, Springfield stalemate, and running vs. Ken Dunkin at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Juliana-Stratton-on-resolving-conflict-Springfield-stalemate-/54497.html .
Ed Underhill—who lives with his husband, Liam, and their dog, Finn, in Bucktown—is running against Anna Loftus and Carlos Claudio in a tight judicial race. See www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Out-judicial-candidate-wants-to-represent-neighborhoods-/54494.html .
Incumbent Christian Mitchell tries to hold on to his seat: See the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Christian-Mitchell-on-why-hes-the-walk-the-walk-choice-/54495.html .
Jay Travis running for rep: See the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/ELECTIONS-2016-Jay-Travis-aims-to-unseat-Mitchell-in-26th-/54496.html .
4. Early voting info
Early voting for the March 15 primary election will take place through March 12. ( On March 13-14, early voting will be offered at one of 14 "permanent early voting sites," including the Chicago Board of Elections, 69 W. Washington St. ) Voters registered in the City of Chicago may use any early voting site in the city, regardless of where the voters live.
Voters don't need a reason or excuse to use early voting; however, voters do need to present government-issued photo identification.
Ballots cast in early voting are final. After casting ballots in early voting, voters may not return to amend, change or undo a ballot for any reason. It is a felony to vote more than once—or to attempt to vote more than once—in the same election.
All 51 early voting sites will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. To get a list of sites, visit www.chicagoelections.com/en/early-voting.html .
Polling places changed for 48 precincts
Voters in 48 precincts in suburban Cook County will have a new polling place for the March 15 Presidential Primary Election. Evanston, Cicero, Palos Heights and River Forest are among the suburbs affected.
There are 1,599 precincts in suburban Cook County and more than 1,000 polling places. While polling places are primarily public buildings, they can change for a variety of reasons, such as safety issues, construction projects or space constraints.
Households impacted by these changes will receive postcards.
Grace-period voting, registration
Through March 14, Chicago voters may register and vote in person at any of the 51 early voting locations. During the "grace period," people must register in person—and then vote during that same visit. Voters must present two IDs with one that shows their current address.
On Election Day, March 15, a Chicago voter may register at the precinct polling place assigned for that voter's home address. Again, two forms of ID are needed, including one that shows the voter's home address.
