Register to Vote

Register+to+Vote

Kaela Wilkinson

November 6th is a date that should be circled on everyone’s calendar; the 2018 General Election is right around the corner. If you recently turned 18, or will be 18 before the election, this is an exciting time for you! The results of this election could be pivotal in this country’s future. Several government seats are being contested: Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Congress Representatives, and State Senators. As a new voter, this may seem overwhelming. Mark Adalin, a Whitney Young class of 2018 graduate, shares that “It is important to educate yourself before registering. It makes the process easier when you’re confident in who your vote is going to.” To brush up on the candidates for the Illinois statewide general election, click here.

Let’s remember, every vote counts. It is important that if you are eligible you participate in this election. “Registering to vote was exciting for me,” says Whitney Young alumni, Ellavieve McCarthy. “It was the first step to making my voice heard.” Luckily, registering to vote is easier than you think! Illinois offers online voter registration which is quick and convenient. You can begin by answering a series of questions on this Application. If you don’t have extensive access to a computer, you should either print out the voter registration form and mail it to your local election office, or contact them to find out when/ where you can register in person.

In this years Senate midterm elections, 35 of the total 100 seats are up for grabs. Democrats hope to win at least two seats and regain control of the house. The country has been in a state of overall political turmoil while both the executive and legislative branches are primarily conservative. A shift in our legislative branch could bring a small feeling of security to many of the groups that have felt targeted throughout Donald Trump’s presidency.Mr. Fiksdal, a social science teacher here at Whitney Young, has a message for all students eligible to vote; “In his address to Congress in 1861, Lincoln said that “The struggle for today is not altogether for today — it is for a vast future also.” Voting now determines the shape of things to come. If you want to impact the future, you have to make a statement in the present. Apathy never leads to change.” Now is the time to take our fate into your own hands. Register now!