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NUVotes

Northwestern's comprehensive 50-state voter-services hub

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Printing & Mailing

If your voter registration form, ballot request form, or ballot requires printing, mailing, copies of IDs, or a witness or notary signature, we’ve outlined how you can access those services on the Evanston Campus, Chicago Campus, or Anywhere:

Evanston Campus

Printing & Copies of IDs

  • If your form(s) or ballot need to be printed, you can print in any of the following places on campus:
    • Norris University Center or University Library using NU Print
    • Residential Area Desks in Allison, Sargent, Schapiro, and Willard using NU Print
    • School or department computer labs, residential colleges, or other departments with which you are affiliated
  • Or off campus, at the Evanston Public Library
  • Or visit an NU Votes In-Person Voter Services Station
  • To make a copy of your ID, you can simply take a photo and then print the photo.

Stamps & Envelopes

  • Once your form is printed, fully completed, and signed, if you do not have an envelope or stamp, you can:
  • Bring your completed form to the NU Votes Dropbox at the Center for Civic Engagement at 1813 Hinman Ave. Voter registration and ballot request forms can be deposited in this Dropbox and will be picked up every few days to be mailed. Note that this Dropbox is not intended for ballot return.
  • For your ballot, you can pick up stamps at an NU Votes Mailing Support Station at the Foster-Walker or Kemper Package Center.
  • Or visit an NU Votes In-Person Voter Services Station.
  • Note that we may not be able to mail your form for you in every state due to state election law (we will let you know if this is the case), and we cannot accept ballots, but we can always provide an envelope and/or stamp along with mailing instructions.
  • Also note that using NU Votes’ mailing services will add several days to the process. Check your state’s deadline. If it is within several days of a postmark deadline, or within one week of a received deadline, we recommend going directly to the post office instead. The post office can sell you a single stamp ($0.73) and typically a single envelope if you need one. The Evanston Post Office at 1101 Davis St is open Monday–Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday 7am–3pm, and the Self-Service Kiosks in the lobby is available Monday–Friday 6:30am–6pm and Saturday 6:30am–2pm.

Mailing

  • Once you have your form or ballot in a stamped or postage-paid envelope, drop it off at the Foster-Walker or Kemper Package Center, or in the nearest USPS collection box. These blue collection boxes are available on campus at the corners of:
    • Colfax & Sheridan
    • Foster & Sheridan
    • Hinman & Sheridan
  • Check your state’s deadline. If it is within several days of a postmark deadline, or within one week of a received deadline, we recommend bringing it directly to the post office instead. The Evanston Post Office at 1101 Davis St is open Monday–Friday 8am–6pm and Saturday 7am–3pm, and the mail slots in the lobby are available Monday–Friday 6:30am–6pm and Saturday 6:30am–2pm.

Witness & Notary Services

  • In some cases, your ballot request form or ballot may require a witness signature or notary.
  • A witness typically can be anyone, but read the instructions carefully, as sometimes this needs to be another registered voter from your state or county.
  • If your ballot request form or voted ballot requires a notary, this means that a registered third party known as a notary public must verify your identity, witness you signing the document, and sign the document themselves, affixing their official notary stamp.
  • On the Evanston Campus, notary services are available at:
  • Or Off-Campus at:
    • Evanston City Clerk’s Office (Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge, Room 1200), by appointment only, Monday–Friday 9:30am–3:30pm, for $2.
    • Illinois Currency Exchange (1605 Maple Ave, just behind the Davis Purple Line stop), on a walk-in basis, Monday–Saturday 9am–6pm, for $5 per signature.
    • If you bank in Evanston, Byline Bank, Chase Bank, and Evanston Community Bank & Trust all offer notary services for free to account holders. Call your local branch to confirm availability.
    • Fully online notary services are available for $25 per signature at notarize.com.

 

Chicago Campus

Printing & Copies of IDs

  • If your form(s) need to be printed, you can print in the following places on campus:
    • Feinberg School of Medicine: Galter Health Sciences Library using NU Print
    • Kellogg School of Management: Administrative Services Office, Second Floor Mezzanine, Wieboldt Hall using KPrint
    • Pritzker School of Law: Legal Research Center (Rubloff Building, Second Floor), Student Services (McCormick Hall, First Floor), or Levy Mayer (Basement) using NU Print
    • School of Professional Studies: Wieboldt Hall Computer Lab (Room 415) using NU Print
  • To make a copy of your ID, you can simply take a photo and then print the photo.

Stamps & Envelopes

  • If you do not have an envelope or stamp, your local post office can sell you a single stamp ($0.73) and typically a single envelope if you need one. The John Hancock Post Office at 875 N Michigan is open Monday–Friday 10am–5:30pm and the Streeterville Post Office at 355 E Ohio is open Monday–Friday 9am–6pm.

Mailing

  • Once you have your form or ballot in a stamped or postage-paid envelope, simply drop it in the nearest USPS collection box. (This is typically faster than going through campus mail.) These blue collection boxes are available at:
    • 357 E Chicago
    • 434 E Huron
    • 727 N Fairbanks
  • Check your state’s deadline. If it is within several days of a postmark deadline, or within one week of a received deadline, we recommend bringing it directly to the post office instead.
  • The John Hancock Post Office at 875 N Michigan is open Monday–Friday 10am–5:30pm and the Streeterville Post Office at 355 E Ohio is open Monday–Friday 9am–6pm.

Witness & Notary Services

  • In some cases, your ballot request form or ballot may require a witness signature or notary.
  • A witness typically can be anyone, but read the instructions carefully, as sometimes this needs to be another registered voter from your state or county.
  • If your ballot request form or voted ballot requires a notary, this means that a registered third party known as a notary public must verify your identity, witness you signing the document, and sign the document themselves, affixing their official notary stamp.
  • Near the Chicago Campus, notary services are available at:
    • Currency Exchange Illinois (62 E Chicago Ave), on a walk-in basis, Monday—Wednesday 7am–10pm, Thursday 7am–8pm, Friday 7am–10pm, Saturday 8am–8pm, Sunday 9am–5pm, for $1 per signature
    • If you bank in Chicago, many local banks offer notary services for free to account holders. Call your local branch to confirm availability.
    • Fully online notary services are available for $25 per signature at notarize.com.

 

Anywhere

Printing & Copies of IDs

  • If you don’t have a printer at home, many public libraries, copy and print shops, office supply stores, shipping centers, and grocery stores and pharmacies with photo kiosks offer printing and copying services, typically for around $0.10–$0.20 per page. National chains that offer this service include Fed Ex Office, Office Depot/Office Max, Staples, UPS  Store, and CVS Photo, or check with local stores in your area.
  • To make a copy of your ID, you can simply take a photo and then print the photo.

Stamps & Envelopes

  • If you don’t have an envelope or stamp, your local post office will sell you a single stamp ($0.73) and typically a single envelope if you need one. USPS Self-Service Kiosks in post office lobbies and some shopping malls are typically available even when the post office counter is closed. If you are not near a post office, copy and print shops, office supply stores, shipping centers, and most grocery stores and pharmacies will sell envelopes and stamps, though you will likely need to buy a small box of envelopes and a book of stamps. Some banks and gas stations may sell stamps as well. Find your local approved postal providers.

Mailing

  • Once you have your form or ballot in a stamped or postage-paid envelope, simply drop it in the nearest USPS collection box.
  • Check your state’s deadline. If it is within a few days of a postmark deadline, or within one week of a received deadline, we recommend bringing it directly to your local post office instead.
  • If your state or county offers ballot drop boxes, we recommend delivering your ballot to your closest ballot drop box, rather than via the mail service.

Witness & Notary Services

  • In some cases, your ballot request form or ballot may require a witness signature or notary.
  • A witness typically can be anyone, but read the instructions carefully, as sometimes this needs to be another registered voter from your state or county.
  • If your ballot request form or voted ballot requires a notary, this means that a registered third party known as a notary public must verify your identity, witness you signing the document, and sign the document themselves, affixing their official notary stamp.
  • Notary services are available at many banks, credit unions, and public libraries (often for free, though they may be limited to account holders), and at many local currency exchanges and UPS Stores, typically for a small fee, which varies by state. AAA branches, accounting, law, and real estate offices, and even local pharmacies may also offer this service. We recommend calling ahead to confirm hours of availability and any fees, and remember to bring ID.
  • Fully online notary services are available for $25 per signature at notarize.com.

Please note: The information here was compiled from publicly available sources in an effort to help provide students with non-partisan information that they may need to know in order to register correctly and vote in upcoming elections. Northwestern University does not endorse or oppose any candidate or organization in connection with this or any other political campaign or election. Students are responsible for working with their own local election officials to ensure their own correct registration and to verify local laws and policies about voting in their respective districts.