The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee along with the 51st Street Business Association Tuesday announced a voter registration drive which they hope will add thousands to the voter rolls by the February 16th registration deadline for the March 15th primary.
“In the spirit of Mayor Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., we urge you to come out and register to vote by the Feb. 16 deadline and come out to vote in mass numbers on March 15.
Register to vote by February 16th,” the coalition said in a joint statement.
“February 16, 2016 is the deadline to use a mail-in form or the online system to register to vote – or file a name or address change for the March 15, 2016 primary election,” according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. You can use your Illinois driver’s license or state ID card to register to vote.
You may register to vote on line through February 16th by clicking on: https://ova.elections.il.gov. However, online applications for voter registration for the 2016 General Primary will no longer be accepted as of February 16th at 11:59 p.m.
To be eligible to vote, you must: be a U.S. citizen, be 17-years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the General Election. You must live in your election precinct at least 30-days prior to Election Day. You cannot be convicted and in jail. Those in jail but not convicted are eligible to vote, and people cannot claim the right to vote anywhere else.
The Harold Washington Legacy Committee and the 51st Street Business Association are airing a PSA on WVON and other radio stations that says:
“16 shots and what do you got?
Feb. 16th what have you got? The last day to register cause your vote means a lot. 16 shots and what do that mean. We’ve got to make a change in 2016.
“In 1982, Congressman Harold Washington said he would run for office if 50,000 Blacks would register new voters. A voter registration campaign took place resulting in 100,000 newly registered African American voters.
“We did the impossible. We elected the first African American mayor. That goes to show how powerful our vote is. Tell 16 of your friends to register by February 16th and then bring 16 people with you to the polls.”
“Bring back the dream by registering to vote by February 15th and 16th at the 51st Street Business Association located at 220 E. 51st Street between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday, February 15th and Tuesday, February 16th.
After the deadline, those who still have not registered to vote may do so in person at selected sites that are listed on chicagoelections.com
