Vote early on campus this week

Cast your ballot early on campus for the Illinois primary election.

Early voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 14 to 16 in Room 613, Student Center East. Share a selfie on social media with #UICVOTES.

Voting before the March 20 election offers a flexible and time-saving option for Chicago residents. It’s also a chance for staff, students and faculty to be heard. Those who want to vote but are not registered can register at the polls.

“We have worked very hard to increase voter registration,” said Dick Simpson, professor of political science.

Those efforts were recognized last year. UIC was named a Voter Friendly Campus by the Fair Elections Legal Network’s Campus Vote Project and Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education (NASPA), as well as and the “Most Engaged Campus” during the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.

Voters will choose gubernatorial candidates for the November ballot, and vote for state and federal offices. Legislators will weigh in on issues that are important to higher education, such as the state budget, Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and more.

“It’s important for this voter constituency to get out and show that we’re civically engaged,” said Marvin Slaughter, a junior in political science and economics and president of the UIC Student Advocacy Coalition. “To show [our legislatures] that we should be a priority, we have to show them that the civic and political process is a priority to us.”

Early voting at UIC was made possible by the UIC Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, Student Affairs, the UIC Office of Public and Government Affairs, the Department of Political Science and campus student organizations.