Voting is a powerful tool that allows the voices of millions of Americans to be heard. As the Nov. 8 midterm elections are fast approaching, here is a guide of things to know before voting.

Nationwide midterm elections occur every four years, two years after the President has been in office. The midterm elections are widely identified as a general election and fall on Tuesday, Nov. 8 this year.

Anyone who is 18 and a citizen of the United States makes the first cut in being eligible to register to vote. Those who want to register to vote in Illinois must be a resident of the state and live in the designated election precinct at least 30 days before the next election. The election precinct is determined by one’s home address. Those eligible to register to vote cannot be registered in a different state and cannot be serving a prison sentence. 

For anyone who missed the online registration deadline, which was Oct. 23, polling places in Illinois will allow people to register to vote up to and on Election Day. 

An Illinois driver’s license and another form of identification, one with a home address, must be present when registering in person. DeKalb County Clerk is one of many resources that can assist in checking registration status and providing information on how to vote and the location of DeKalb County polling places.

A resident’s polling place is determined by their precinct number and can be found on their Voter Registration Card. You can find the full list of polling places here. 

Registering to vote is the first step in the crucial process of voting. Knowing who’s going to be on the ballot is the next step. 

BallotPedia allows anyone to look up the candidates running in the Nov. 8 midterm election. Reproductive rights, racial justice, gun laws and healthcare access are just a few of the issues that are significant in the 2022 midterm elections.  

On the Illinois ballot is Amendment One, the right to Collective Bargaining Measure, as well as a new state Governor. Being informed on who to vote for and what each candidate supports will ensure each voter votes in their own self-interest.