Election Day’s Nov. 3. Don’t cast your ballot in ignorance. Square’s here to help—with a guide to voter guides.
Be ready.
■ You can register to vote on Election Day itself, but—this year especially—don’t wait.
■ Do it online through Oct. 18 here.
■ Generate a customized ballot for suburban Cook County or Chicago.
■ Your ballot, explained: BallotReady and Ballotpedia.
■ Outside Cook County? Learn more at your county’s website: DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry, Kendall …
■ … or from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
■ … or from the Illinois State Board of Elections.
■ Outside Illinois? Start here.
Get schooled.
■ Check the WBEZ/Sun-Times/Chalkbeat guide to the first election of the full Chicago School Board.
■ Meet board presidential candidates in a WTTW-TV town hall.
■ See answers candidates for Congress, the Illinois General Assembly and Cook County state’s attorney have given for the Sun-Times’ survey.
■ Review all those judicial candidates via the VoteForJudges.org website and Injustice Watch.
■ Consider the Girl, I Guess Guide to the 2026 General Election in Cook County and Beyond.
■ Want to know which candidates are taking whose cash? Transparency USA, Illinois Sunshine and the Illinois Elections Board are tracking that.
■ Read the Tribune’s editorial endorsements—although (go figure) they’re behind a paywall and “a corporate edict … prevents us from making formal endorsements in the Illinois races for U.S. Senate and governor.”
Do it.
■ Want to vote early, in person? Chicago voters can do that beginning Oct. 1; other Illinoisans, check here.
■ Here’s where to vote Election Day in Chicago and the suburbs.
■ Trouble at your polling place? Call 866-OUR-VOTE.
■ … or, anywhere else: “Where’s My F**king Polling Place?”
■ Trouble voting? The ACLU explains how to exercise your voting rights, resist voter intimidation efforts and access disability-related accommodations and language assistance …
■ … or call 866-OUR-VOTE.
Go beyond.
■ Get updates around the clock on the Square Bluesky page.
■ Be informed for every election. Sign up for Square email, sent to your inbox (free!) weekday mornings at 10.
■ If you’ve found this useful, you can help keep Square coming with a contribution—of as little as $1, just once.
This is a work in progress.
■ Spot a mistake? Know of another source that’ll help people vote smart? Email Voterguide@ChicagoPublicSquare.com.
■ Know someone else ready to vote? Share this guide with a friend.
