Reminder: Last Day to Register to Vote in Illinois Primary

With less than a week before registration closes, Cook County Clerk David Orr is urging voters who wish to vote in the March 20 presidential primary to register by the Feb. 21 deadline.

As of Wednesday, there were 1,385,935 registered voters in suburban Cook County, according to a release from Orr's office.

"The number of suburban Cook County voters is comparable to the 2008 presidential primary election, but about 50,000 less than the 2008 presidential general election," Orr stated in the release. "While we haven't seen much registration activity, we anticipate a rush of registrations in the summer and fall prior to the Nov. 6 election."

Registration totals are also available by district and precinct in the Election Data section of cookcountyclerk.com.

Orr said voters who have recently moved must re-register at their current address prior to the deadline.

To receive a voter registration application, suburban Cook County residents can print an application form by visiting cookcountyclerk.com. Chicago residents can visit chicagoelections.com for information.

Voter registration applications are available in English, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese.

After completing the application, prospective voters should return it to the Cook County Clerk's Chicago office, 69 W. Washington St., Room 500. All applications must be delivered or postmarked by Feb. 21.

Residents wishing to register in person can visit Orr's office or one of the Clerk's offices located in the five suburban Cook County courthouses. They can also go to their municipal or township clerk's office.

Lemont voters may register at the following locations:

• Village Hall, 418 Main St.
• Lemont Township, 1115 Warner Ave.
• Lemont Public Library, 50 E. Wend St.

Prospective voters should bring two pieces of identification to register, including one displaying a current address (a bill mailed to the prospective voter may serve as one form of ID).

To qualify to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day (March 20) and a resident of his or her precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Voters who miss the regular registration deadline will still be able to vote if they register during the 14-day grace period. Grace-period registration runs from Feb. 22 through March 13.

Grace-period voters must vote in person at the Clerk's office immediately after signing up to vote. Grace-period registrants are not allowed to vote by mail, at the polls on Election Day, or at any Early Voting site.

Information submitted by Cook County Clerk David Orr.