NUVotes

Voter Services

Have Questions or Need Help?
The NU Votes staff and student team is standing by! Email nuvotes@northwestern.edu or text us at 847-461-9015. We will reply promptly Monday–Friday during business hours and as soon as possible (within 24 hours) outside business hours.

Or stop in to our drop-in hours via Zoom or in person at the Center for Civic Engagement, where you can register to vote, check or update your registration, or request or return an absentee ballot for all 50 states, plus access resources like envelopes, stamps, and copies of IDs, and get all of your registration and voting questions answered (Bring a driver’s license or state-issued photo ID if you have one, and your social security number).

Just need help with printing and mailing? Check out NU Votes’ tips and resources, whether you’re on or off campus.

Upcoming Events

NU Votes organizes voter registration, education, and turnout efforts, and works with a variety of campus partners to support and promote election-related programming throughout the season.

• Wildcat Welcome

  Friday, September 21st
  8am – 5pm Welcome Centers – 560 Lincoln, Allison, Elder, Sargent & Willard

  in collaboration with the Office of New Student & Family Programs

• Voting 101 & Voter Services Events

  Sun, Sept 20th @ 5pm–5:30pm CDT
  Mon, Sept 21st @ 5pm–5:30pm CDT
  Tues, Sept 22nd @ 7pm–7:30pm CDT
  Fri, Sept 25th @ 2pm–2:30pm CDT
  Wed, Sept 30th @ 7pm–7:30pm CDT
  Zoom

  First time voting in a presidential election? Unsure what voting will look like during COVID-19? Want to vote in November, but not sure where to start? Our NU Votes team will offer an overview of the voting process, and then walk you through our new online tools. You will be able to register to vote, check or update your registration, and/or request an absentee ballot to vote by mail during the session, and will leave prepared to vote this fall! Bring a driver’s license or state-issued photo ID if you have one, and your social security number.

  Note: Monday’s event is co-sponsored by the Southwest Area, Tuesday’s event is co-sponsored by the North Area, and Wednesday’s event is co-sponsored by Northwestern Athletics.

• Remote Drop-In Hours

  Mon Oct 19th, Wed Oct 21st, Fri Oct 23rd
  2pm–4pm CDT Zoom

  Stop in to NU Votes Drop-In Hours on Zoom to get 1-on-1 support with registering to vote, checking or update your registration, or requesting an absentee ballot, and get answers to all of your voting questions. Bring your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID if you have one, and your social security number.

• In-Person Drop-In Hours

  Mon Oct 19th, Wed Oct 21st, Fri Oct 23rd
  2pm–4pm CDT 1813 Hinman in Evanston

  Stop in to NU Votes Drop-In Hours at the Center for Civic Engagement (1813 Hinman Ave in Evanston) to get 1-on-1 support with registering to vote, checking or update your registration, or requesting an absentee ballot, and get answers to all of your voting questions. Bring your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID if you have one, and your social security number.

• Voter Services Station

  Mon, Sept 28th – Fri, Oct 2nd
  12pm–4pm (daily)
  Outside the Jacobs Center (Foster & Sheridan), Evanston Campus

  Visit the NU Votes Voter Services Station in person to register to vote, check or update your registration, request an absentee ballot, access other resources like printing, copying, mailing, and get answers to all of your voting questions. Bring your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID if you have one, and your social security number.

• Voter Services Station

  Mon, Oct 26th – Fri, Oct 30th
  2pm–4pm (daily)
  Outside the Jacobs Center (Foster & Sheridan), Evanston Campus

  Visit the NU Votes Voter Services Station in person for support with early or mail-in voting. Pick up stamps to mail your ballot, access copying and notary services, and get answers to all of your last minute voting questions. NU Votes Ambassadors will lead walking trips to the Evanston Civic Center every half hour for early voting or mail ballot drop offs. If you still need to register and vote in Evanston, bring two forms of ID (proof of identity and proof of address).

• Vote Together Ballot Party

  Tuesday, October 30th
  5pm–8pm Norris University Center – Armadillo Room

  Voting is more fun when you do it together! Enjoy food, drink, music, and good company while you complete your ballot or prepare to vote in person. Look up a sample ballot, research the candidates and policy issues, discuss and debate your choices with friends. We’ll help with anything you need to submit your ballot by mail – stamps, envelopes, copies of IDs, etc. – we’ll even mail it for you. And our trained staff will be on site to answer all of your last minute questions if you plan to vote in person. Co-sponsored by the Associated Student Government, College Democrats and College Republicans.

• Midterms Ballot Party for Grad Students & Post-Docs

  Thursday, November 1st
  4pm–6pm Center for Civic Engagement – 1813 Hinman

  GRAD students and POST-Docs! Join us for refreshments and all the tools you need to research candidates and policy issues, find your polling place, and vote by mail. Drop by any time between 4 and 6.

• Voter Van

  Wednesday–Friday, March 11th–13th
  1pm - 5pm Norris University Center

  Take the Voter Van to the Evanston Civic Center to cast your Illinois Primary ballot during early voting!

  Or visit the Evanston Civic Center (2100 Ridge) on your own any day through March 16th, Monday–Friday 9am–7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am–4pm.

  You can register to vote or update your registration in Evanston at the same time – bring two forms of ID (one that establishes your identity and one that shows your current address).

• Illinois Primary Election Day!

  Tuesday, March 17th
  Polls Open 6am – 7pm Noyes Cultural Arts Center (North Campus) or Parkes Hall (South Campus)

  Vote! Vote! Vote! Polls in Illinois are open from 6am–7pm.

  Voting at your campus address?
  North campus votes at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center (927 Noyes St)
  South campus votes at Parkes Hall (1870 Sheridan Rd)

  Voting at an off-campus address? Find your polling place:
  In Evanston: https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/service/your-voter-information
  In Chicago: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html
  Elsewhere in Illinois: https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx

  You can also register to vote or update your registration in Evanston at the same time. Bring two forms of ID, one that establishes your identity and one that shows your current address.

• Election Night Watch Party

  Tuesday, November 6th
  7pm – 10pm Harris Hall – Room 107

  Join us to watch the election results come in. We’ll have live feeds running, food, coffee, good people, and a good time as ballots are counted and this thing called democracy is put to test. Co-sponsored by the Associated Student Government and the Political Union.

• Election Night Watch Party for Grad Students & Post-Docs

  Tuesday, November 6th
  6pm–10pm The Redline Tap – 7006 N Glenwood Ave

  Join grad students + post-docs across the University to watch the election results come in. Free appetizers + drink specials! RSVPs appreciated but not required: http://bit.ly/NUElectionParty

  Co-sponsored w/ the Northwestern University Postdoctoral Association and the Graduate Leadership & Advocacy Council.

• Full Send: Mail-in Voting and Turnout During Crisis

  Monday, October 19th
  6pm CDT Zoom

  Election Day is in under three weeks, and voting is a hot topic. Join the Political Union on Monday for a Civics & Snacks with Kevin Kosar, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss mail-in ballots, postal capacity, and what to expect in the upcoming election. NU Votes is co-sponsoring.

• Help Get Out the Vote!

  Monday, Oct 19th – Thursday, October 29th
  Zoom

  What can you do right now to get out the vote on the 2020 elections? Are you deeply worried about the state of our democracy? Are you tired of just complaining and listening to others complain? Do you feel powerless to do anything about the pandemic, racial equity, climate change? In these critical final weeks, you can do more than vote this election: Magnify the impact of your vote by taking small, easy actions to Get Out the Vote in an election that may change the fate of our democracy.

  Join the Delta Lab and fellow Northwestern students excited about civic engagement for a fun 45-minute discussion to learn what easy steps you can take today to get out the vote. Make new friends, share what you care about, and commit to making an impact together on the most important election of our lifetime.

  Interested? Fill out this 30-second sign up form to attend. Questions? Email Kristine at k.lu@u.northwestern.edu.

   

• Election Trivia Night for Grad Students & Post-Docs

  Tuesday, October 20th
  6pm–8pm CDT Zoom

  The Graduate Student Association, Science Policy Outreach Task Force, McCormick Graduate Leadership Council and Kellogg’s Public Policy Club are partnering with NU Votes to host a virtual Election Trivia Night! Come with a team of friends or meet other graduate students and post-docs as you compete in several rounds of trivia to win $175 in prizes. NU Votes Ambassadors will be in attendance to answer any questions about mail-in or in-person voting, as well as walk you through your local ballot. ALL grad students and post-docs welcome. You *do not* have to be eligible to vote to participate…or win! Register now!

• Understanding the Election: A Big Ten Collaboration

  Tuesday, October 27th
  5pm–6:30pm CDT Zoom

  Election scholars from across the nation will discuss student voter registration, polling in key states, and potential outcomes of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election during a special event open to all Big Ten students and guests. The 90-minute virtual event will include time for debate, discussion, and analysis. The panel will be moderated by Northwestern University’s Dan Lewis, Professor of Human Development and Social Policy in the School of Education and Social Policy. Featured speakers include Michael Traugott, Research Professor at the Center for Political Studies and Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Michigan; Dave Brinker, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts University; and Diana Mutz, Director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics and Professor of Political Science and Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. NU Votes is co-sponsoring the event and will be on hand to answer your final voting questions. Register now!