By Simon Czerwinskyj, Civic Literacy Librarian
Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
In each election cycle, finding vetted, reliable information as a voter can be difficult. The resources below are a good starting point to find out who’s on your ballot, where your polling place is located, and how to navigate Cook County judge retention and elections.
The following guide was created in collaboration with DuShaun Branch from CHANGE Illinois. Our goal is to help raise your awareness of who’s running for which office, and what issues are at stake in the polls.
Jump to:
- General election information
- Local elections & judicial elections information
- Upcoming voter education & civics events at the library
General election information
Ballotpedia
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage in the 100 largest cities by population and also covers mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections in every state capital. In Illinois, this covers Chicago and Cook County, as well as Springfield.
BallotReady
Plan ahead by filling out a sample ballot for local and national elections. You can find your representatives and polling locations as well.
CHANGE Illinois
CHANGE Illinois is a nonpartisan nonprofit that champions equitable democracy, ethics, and efficiency in government and elections in Illinois.
Common Cause: Take Action Page
Common Cause updates voters on relevant Illinois voting issues and provides tools for voter registration, polling places, and more.
Vote411.org
See what’s on your ballot, check your voter registration, find your polling place, discover upcoming debates in your area, and much more.
Local elections & judicial elections information
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights: Election Protection
Election Protection volunteers help Illinois and Indiana voters access the ballot during primary and general elections by answering calls to the nonpartisan 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and protecting access at the polls in select counties.
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois Bar Association provides judicial evaluations and advisory polls by county.
Injustice Watch: Judicial Elections
Injustice Watch researches every judicial candidate and provides comprehensive, nonpartisan voter guides for each Cook County judicial election.
Upcoming voter education & civics events
Please register for each event by clicking on the event title.
Village Government 101: Meet Clerk Waters
Monday, September 21, 7 pm, Main Library
Meet the Oak Park Village’s Clerk Waters in person! Clerk Waters will be answering questions about her role, including her outreach efforts, and her impact as a civil servant.
Together We Vote: Voter Education Event
Monday, September 28, 7 pm, Main Library
Are you ready to get active, engaged, and prepared for the 2026 midterm election? Join CHANGE Illinois to learn more about the November election, discuss who is on the ballot, and get ready to vote!
Ready, Set, Vote: A Conversation on Being an Informed Voter
Tuesday, September 29, virtual on Zoom
Join a dynamic panel discussion on how to become a more informed and confident voter. We bring together a librarian, an Illinois Bar Association attorney, and a representative from the League of Women Voters of Illinois to share trusted resources for researching candidates, understanding judicial elections, and navigating nonpartisan tools available to all.
The Injustice Watch Guide to Cook County Judicial Elections
Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm, Main Library
Cook County judicial elections are notoriously confusing. Who do you vote to retain, who do you vote into a new seat? Injustice Watch does the research for you, and offers a comprehensive guide to these confusing elections.
About Simon
Simon Czerwinskyj is the Civic Literacy Librarian. In this exciting new role, he’s interested in exploring the intersection of local government and civic empowerment. He enjoys cycling and cats.Â