What Quad Citians should know before they vote

November 7, 2022

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As anyone who has been subjected to the constant barrage of negative campaign ads dominating our airwaves, polluting our devices and filling our mailboxes already knows: Tuesday, Nov. 8, is Election Day. It might be tempting for battle-weary Quad Citians to simply hunker down and wait for the noise to stop on Wednesday. Those who do, however, will miss a chance to make their voices heard in a high-stakes election that will select top Iowa and Illinois governors and constitutional officers, state senators and representatives, two U.S. senate seats and every member of Congress. Many Quad Cities voters also will find contested county races on their ballots Tuesday. For Illinois statewide voters, also hanging in the election balance is a proposed constitutional amendment that, if ratified, would make collective bargaining rights part of the Illinois Constitution. In addition to urging those who haven’t voted early to go to the polls Tuesday, election authorities are encouraging Quad Citians to make sure they go to the correct polling place. Many districts were changed during the recent legislative redistricting. So it’s a good idea to check first to be sure you’re in the right place on what authorities hope will be a busy election day. To make it easier to cast your ballot in person, Illinois and Iowa election authorities are stressing a list of things voters should be aware of before voting Tuesday. What Iowa voters should know: In Iowa, polls are open from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m. State law requires voters to vote in the polling place in the precinct where they live. Proof of residence may be required if updating your address on Election Day. If you have questions about where to vote, contact the county auditor or find your precinct online. Unlike Illinois voters, Iowans must bring valid identification to their polling places. Election officials are required to ask voters registered in the county to show one of these six valid forms of identification:

Iowa Driver’s License (not expired more than 90 days).
Iowa Non-Operator ID (not expired more than 90 days).
U.S. Passport (unexpired).
U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID (unexpired).
Iowa Voter Identification Card (signed).
Tribal ID Card/Document (signed, with photo, unexpired).

An Iowa voter ID is provided automatically by the county auditor to each voter who does not have either an Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID. Any voter may request an Iowa Voter ID Card by contacting their county auditor’s office. A voter without valid identification can have their identity attested to by another registered voter in the precinct or may prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents including:

Residential lease.
Utility bill (including a cell phone bill).
Bank statement.
Paycheck.
Government check or other government document.
Property tax statement.

What Illinois voters should know: In Illinois, polls are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Voters also are being urged to make sure their voting districts and precincts have not changed. Illinois residents can find their precinct locations by entering their ZIP Code and address here. Identification is not required to vote on Election Day in Illinois, although you will be required to verify your signature. If you registered to vote-by-mail and did not submit any ID with the registration, you also must show a form of ID to vote. Acceptable forms include:

A current and valid photo ID.
Utility bill.
Bank statement.
Government check.
Paycheck.
Lease or contract for residence.
Student ID and mail addressed to voter's residence.
Government document.

Those without valid IDs will be asked to vote a Provisional Ballot. Illinoisans also have been taking advantage of the vote-by-mail option, particularly those provided during COVID-19. That trend has continued even after pandemic restrictions were lifted with many voters opting to join a list of people who have their ballots automatically mailed to them, according to the Illinois State Board of Election (ISBE). As the 2022 General Election Day approached, however, the state election authority reports that it had been fielding questions from some of the 820,000 Illinoisans who had requested vote-by-mail-ballots in 2022 but have opted instead to vote in person. Voters are allowed to do so, but not by simply dropping off their mail-in ballot at their polling place, the ISBE said. A voter who has received a mail ballot but wishes to vote in person should take the ballot to a polling place or early voting location and surrender it to an election judge. The voter can then vote in person.

What Quad Citians should know before they vote

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