Election Day: All You Need to Know Guide Ahead of November 3, 2026
Illustration by Alyssa Chau
By Angel Dominguez
Pumpkin spice, Thanksgiving, and the Charlie Brown special are all synonymous with the arrival of autumn. The fall season signifies a change in the calendar year, and in our everyday lives.
The fall season also brings midterm elections. As the leaves change color, your vote also holds power to create change within your community.
As we approach November, here is an extended guide to anything and everything ahead of Election Day.
The midterm elections, held halfway through the president's four-year term, hold races for federal, state, and local positions. Giving citizens the voting power to make change at every level, from electing officials who shape national policy to choosing the local officials who make decisions that directly change your community.
Some key races to follow are:
Governor: a state’s governor oversees the state, approves or vetos state laws, lobbies for change at the federal level and is in charge of the state budget.
Who is running?
Darren Bailey & Aaron Del Mar (Republican)
JB Pritzker & Christian Mitchell (Democrat)
Collin Corbett & Carolyn Schofield (Independent)
U.S. Senate: a senator’s role is to write and vote on laws to pass. Senators are part of the legislative branch of the government and represent a crucial part locally as they connect with community leaders to listen to what issues need to be addressed at the federal level.
Who is running?
Don Tracy (R)
Juliana Stratton (D)
Whitfield Harrington Jr. (American Center Party)
U.S. House District 4: often referred to as congressman or congresswoman, these representatives attend hearings and approve bills that are proposed. They also are responsible for holding hearings for the committee they serve on.
Who is running?
Lupe Castillo (R)
Patty Garcia (D)
Ed Hershey (Working Class Party)
Chris Getty (I)
On October 20, Berwyn City Clerk Leticia Garcia organized a candidate’s forum with all four of the individuals above. You can watch the recording below.
Secretary of State: the Illinois Secretary of State focuses on services, licensing and official records. Giannoulias has focused on the renewal of DMV services, preservation of data archives, improved funding for libraries and a campaign against book banning in the state of Illinois.
Who is running?
Diane Harris (R)
Alexi Giannoulias (D)
This year’s ballot includes other positions including the next Cook County Sheriff, state representative and judicial candidates. You can view Injustice Watch’s judicial guide here. To view your ballot you can visit the Cook County Clerk website here.
Midterm elections give you the chance to act and vote for candidates that will create change in the very issues you want to see addressed. Your vote is crucial to seeking change. It serves as your voice on what opinions you have, and how they can be addressed. The House of Representatives will directly impact those who represent your community, similar to how local elections for offices and boards can create changes to your roads, transportation, cost of living, and school funding, among other policies.
Here’s what you need to do to vote
People who are or will be 18 years by the general election, have lived in their precinct for at least 30 days and are U.S. citizens will be able to vote. The first step is checking your registration status. You can check your voter registration status using the Cook County registration status tool.
Insert your address and last name to check the voter registration status.
Screenshot from October 21, 2026 from the Cook County Clerk’s Office website
Registering to Vote
The deadline to register to vote online has passed but you can still register in person at any of the early voting locations or at your designated voting location on election day. You’ll need two forms of ID such as:
Passport or Military ID
Driver's License or State ID card
College/University/School/Work ID
Vehicle registration card
Lease, mortgage or deed to home
Credit or debit card
Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
Insurance card
Civic, union or professional membership card
LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
Illinois FOID card
Early Voting locations in Cicero and Berwyn
Early voting locations in Cicero from the Cook County Clerk’s Office website
Early voting locations in Berwyn from the Cook County Clerk’s Office website
November 3, 2026: Election Day
On Election Day, voting locations can be found here. Filter between Berwyn and Cicero townships for your respective area.
On Election Day, voting should be an accessible and comfortable experience for the voter. However, it's always best that you're prepared in case any issues arise.
Here are some tips to note:
Upon entering the voting location, no volunteer, poller, or non-worker should address you within 100 feet of the voting location. If you think they may be too close or feel harassed, report it to the election judge.
When preparing to vote, you may have printed information or guides to help you fill out your ballot.
Ask for any accommodations needed, including handicap accessibility or Spanish language assistance.
Call the nonpartisan election protection hotline for assistance or to report any issues. They will have volunteers to monitor the situation and can answer in multiple languages. Their number in English is: 866-687-8683 and in Spanish: 888-839-8682.
Angel Dominguez is a Chicago-based journalist, and a recent graduate from Dominican University with a Bachelor’s in Digital Journalism. His passion for storytelling, sports and digital media was recognized with the 2025 NAHJ Chicago Annual Scholarship.
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