Welcome to the North by Northwestern 2022 midterms election guide! Here you will find information on where and how you can register to vote from now until midterm elections on Nov. 8, and how to navigate your ballot.
Read more on how to vote in Evanston below, or check out voting deadlines and requirements in your home state.
State-by-state voting
Search for your state below to learn more about upcoming voting deadlines and any special requirements.
Alabama
October 24
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Must mail a copy of ID with absentee ballot application
- Must sign an attached affidavit and have the signature notarized OR signed by two witnesses over the age of 18
- The ballot must be received by the Absentee Election Manager by noon on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Alaska
October 9
Registration Deadline
October 29
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Must sign the ballot envelope and have one witness sign it as well
- The ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 10 days after Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Arizona
October 10
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 12
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Arkansas
October 9
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Verification of registration or a copy of photo ID must be mailed with absentee ballot
- Ballot must be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
California
October 24
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 7 days after Election Day
October 10
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Colorado
October 31
Registration Deadline
October 31
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- If you have recently registered you may need to send copy of ID with your ballot
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Connecticut
November 1
Registration Deadline
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Delaware
October 15
Registration Deadline
November 4
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 28
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
District of Columbia
October 18
Registration Deadline
October 25
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received no later than 7 days after Election Day
October 31
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Florida
October 10
Registration Deadline
October 29
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Must have SSN or FL state ID on file to vote by mail
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
Note: Early voting dates may vary by county.
October 29
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Georgia
October 9
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- If you did not include a copy of an acceptable ID when registering to vote, you must include one with your ballot
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 16
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Hawaii
October 31
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 29
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Idaho
October 15
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Illinois
October 12
Registration Deadline
November 3
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 14 days after Election Day
September 29
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Indiana
October 10
Registration Deadline
October 27
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day
October 12
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Iowa
October 24
Registration Deadline
October 24
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 19
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Kansas
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Friday following Election Day
October 19
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Kentucky
October 11
Registration Deadline
October 25
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day
November 3
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Louisiana
October 9
Registration Deadline
November 4
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Must sign the affidavit on ballot envelope and have a witness sign it as well
- Ballot must be received by 4:30 p.m. the day before Election Day
October 25
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Maine
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 3
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 9
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Maryland
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by 10 a.m. on Nov. 18
October 27
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Massachusetts
October 29
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12
October 22
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Michigan
October 24
Registration Deadline
November 4
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
September 29
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Minnesota
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a witness (who is a registered Minnesota voter) or a notary
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
September 23
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Mississippi
October 9
Registration Deadline
No deadline
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a notary or other official authorized to administer oaths
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and recieved by 11/15
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Missouri
October 12
Registration Deadline
October 26
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a notary or other official authorized to administer oaths
- If you did not include a copy of an ID with your voter registration and have not voted in person, you must include a copy with your absentee ballot
- Ballot must be received by the time polls close on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Montana
October 9
Registration Deadline
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 9
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Nebraska
October 21
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by close of polls on Election Day
October 9
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Nevada
November 3
Registration Deadline
No Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- First time voters may need to provide a copy of ID with ballot
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day
October 22
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
New Hampshire
October 29
Registration Deadline
No Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 5 p.m. on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
New Jersey
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received on or before 6 days after Election Day
October 29
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
New Mexico
October 11
Registration Deadline
November 3
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 11
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
New York
October 24
Registration Deadline
October 24
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day, and remember to mail it with enough time for the ballot to be returned to the Board ahead of the general election.
October 29
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
North Carolina
October 14
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a notary OR by the voter and two witnesses 18 or older
- Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day received no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 14
October 20
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
North Dakota
N/A
Registration Deadline
Special Rules: There is no voter registration; all eligible residents may vote
No Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day
October 26
Early Voting Begins
Ohio
October 9
Registration Deadline
November 9
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received no later than 10 days after Election Day
October 12
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Oklahoma
October 14
Registration Deadline
October 24
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Affidavit envelope must be siged by the voter and notarized
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
November 2
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Oregon
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 3
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received in person or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Pennsylvania
October 24
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
N/A
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Rhode Island
October 9
Registration Deadline
October 18
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be recevied by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 19
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
South Carolina
October 9
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by voter and your signature must be witnessed by someone 18 or older
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
South Dakota
October 24
Registration Deadline
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by Election Day
September 23
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Tennessee
October 9
Registration Deadline
November 1
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by close of polls on Election Day
October 19
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Texas
October 9
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and received no later than 5 p.m. the day after Election Day
October 24
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Utah
October 28
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day
October 25
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Vermont
November 8
Registration Deadline
Special Rules: Must include a copy of an acceptable ID that verifies your residency
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by close of business the day before Election Day
September 24
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Virginia
October 17
Registration Deadline
October 28
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a witness
- If you did not include a copy of an ID with your voter registration and have not voted before, you must include a copy with your absentee ballot
- Ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by noon on the third day after Election Day
September 23
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Washington
October 31
Registration Deadline
No Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day
October 21
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
West Virginia
October 18
Registration Deadline
November 2
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- If this is your first time voting, you must include a copy of a valid ID with your ballot
- Ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the start of canvass (5 days after Election Day)
October 26
Early Voting Begins
✘ No Same Day Registration
Wisconsin
October 19
Registration Deadline
November 3
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- If voting absentee for the first time, you must include a copy of a photo ID
- Ballot envelope must be signed by the voter and a witness at leat 18 years old
- Ballot must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
October 25
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Wyoming
October 25
Registration Deadline
November 7
Vote-by-Mail Request Deadline
Vote-by-Mail Requirements:
- Ballot must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day
September 23
Early Voting Begins
✔ Same Day Registration
Voting in Evanston
What if I’m not registered to vote?
Fear not, if you missed your state’s deadline, you can still vote in Evanston! Cook County has Election Day registration, also known as same-day registration, meaning you can register to vote on Nov. 8 at your home precinct.
Now you may be asking, “NBN, how do I know where my home polling place is?” To that, we say go to the Cook County Clerk site where you can look up your polling location, and they’ll even give you directions on how to get there. Some polling sites near campus include Alice Millar Chapel, Noyes Cultural Arts Center (by Coffee Lab) and Evanston Public Library.
To register on Election Day, you will need two forms of identification. Neither one need to be a photo ID, but at least one must show your current address (think lease, utility bill or mail postmarked to your current address).
Okay voting time:
If you’re already registered to vote, you can show up without showing identification. If you are busy on Nov. 8, you can also opt for early voting which runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7. You can find specific hours and locations here, and see the five closest early voting locations to campus below.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day on Nov. 8, and remember that if you’re in line to vote on election day by 7 p.m. they have to let you vote.
If you're in line when polls close, stay in line.
— ACLU (@ACLU) November 3, 2020
You can vote.
If anyone says differently, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. pic.twitter.com/5Qy9KPw6MK
Who's on my ballot?
This election, Evanston voters will cast votes on an amendment for workers rights, changes in forest preserve regulations and ranked choice voting in the city. Voters will also choose federal, state and local candidates including judicial candidates.
For more information on who candidates are and where they stand on issues, you can use www.ballotready.org.