- When is the election?
- Who will be able to vote for Pam?
- Am I in the 11th judicial subcircuit?
- What’s the difference between subcircuit judges and judges elected countywide?
- Am I eligible to vote?
- When is the deadline to register to vote?
- How do I register to vote?
- Where do I vote?
- Can I vote early?
- Can I vote absentee?
- How can I help Pam get elected?
The primary election is Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Pam is running in the Democratic primary. The general election is November 6, 2012.
Anyone who is registered to vote in the 11th judicial subcircuit of Cook County. See the map below.
This map shows the boundaries of the 11th judicial subcircuit. Roughly half the voters in the subcircuit live in the City of Chicago, half in suburban Cook County.
Once elected, there is no difference. Both types of judge serve all Cook County residents and can be assigned to any courtroom in the county.
Before 1992, all Cook County judicial elections were held countywide. For the 1992 election, Cook County was divided into 15 judicial subcircuits to give communities the chance to elect judges from their own areas. Now, every two years some judges are elected countywide and some are elected from subcircuits. Pam is running from the 11th subcircuit, where she lives.
To vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and a resident of your precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
To vote in the March 20, 2012 primary, you must register by Tuesday, February 21. After that, there is a 14-day “grace period” during which you may register and vote immediately by touch-screen ballot. See http://voterinfonet.com/sub/register.asp#gpv for details.
You can register at various government offices, Secretary of State facilities, by mail, or at other locations by a deputy election registrar. For locations and details, see http://voterinfonet.com if you live in suburban Cook County and http://chicagoelections.com if you live in the City of Chicago.
If you live in suburban Cook County, go to http://voterinfonet.com. Enter your address to find out where to vote and what races will be on your ballot. If you live in the City of Chicago, go to http://chicagoelections.com
Yes, you can vote early for the March primary -- for any reason -- between Monday, February 27 and Thursday, March 15, 2012. Early voting takes place in person (not by mail) at designated sites. See http://voterinfonet.com (suburban Cook County) or http://chicagoelections.com (City of Chicago) for locations, times and other details for early voting.
Yes, you can vote absentee by mail. It is no longer necessary to give an excuse to get an absentee ballot. You may apply for an absentee ballot starting February 9, 2012 for the March 20 election. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is March 15. For your ballot to count, you must return it postmarked on or before March 19, the day before the election. See http://voterinfonet.com (suburban Cook County) or http://chicagoelections.com (City of Chicago) for eligibility rules and other details and to download an application.
You can help get the word out to voters. Since Pam would serve as judge for all of Cook County, anyone who wants to elect qualified Cook County judges should take an interest in the race--whether they live in the 11th subcircuit or not. You can spread the word to voters through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and other networks. You can help the campaign reach voters by making a donation to help pay for mailings, lawn signs and buttons. You can attend a campaign event or volunteer for the campaign. Join our e-mail list to keep up to date on the campaign’s progress.
