Illinois general election 2024: Voter guide for St. Louis area
Voters in the Metro East are selecting the president and representation in the U.S. House and Illinois Statehouse.
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On Nov. 5, Illinois voters will head to the polls to select the candidates of their choice. The top of the ballot, the presidential race, often leads the news cycle while local offices are more impactful to the daily lives of Americans.
Voters in Illinois are voting on U.S. representatives, state legislators and weighing in on advisory questions, in addition to the presidential race.
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How to vote
Register
Eligible Illinois voters can register in person, by mail or online. A person is eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 general election if they are a U.S. citizen and will be 18 years old by Nov. 5. They must live in the election precinct for at least 30 days before Election Day, must not be an inmate and may not vote anywhere else.
Register in person: Eligible voters can register to vote through Nov. 5. In the 28 days before an election, this is considered “grace period” registration and must be done at select locations.
Register online: Eligible voters can register to vote online through Oct. 20.
Register by mail: The deadline to register by mail was Oct. 8.
No-excuse absentee voting started Sept. 26. You can request an absentee ballot from your local election authority in person or by mail.
Request ballot in person: Eligible voters may request a ballot one to 90 days ahead of the election. The deadline is Nov. 4.
Request ballot by mail: Eligible voters may request a ballot by mail five to 90 days ahead of the election. The deadline is Oct. 31.
Voted absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks. They may also be placed in designated drop boxes.
Early voting
Eligible voters can cast ballots in person at early voting locations from Sept. 26 to Nov. 4. See the locations here.
Election Day
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Before Election Day, you should check your voter registration and polling place and research what races and issues will appear on your ballot.
About this voter guide
- 5 On Your Side features the key races that affect people in our coverage area. That includes counties in Missouri and Illinois that surround the St. Louis metropolitan area.
- Candidates are listed in alphabetical order unless otherwise noted.
- Uncontested races are not featured.
U.S. President Three candidates on the ballot
The race for U.S. president is hotly contested across the country, but Illinois has reliably selected a Democrat for president since 1992. Biden won Illinois in 2020 by 57.5%, and Hillary Clinton won Illinois by 55.2% in 2016. Three candidates appear on the ballot in the presidential race.
Kamala Harris
Age: 59
Occupation: Attorney
Political experience: Vice president of the United States
Party: Democrat
Biography and campaign: Harris is campaigning for president with running mate Tim Walz. Harris is from Oakland. She lived in Champaign-Urbana for a year in her childhood. She earned degrees from Howard University and the University of California's Hastings College of Law. She served the district attorney in San Francisco and attorney general of California before being elected to the U.S. Senate. President Joe Biden selected her as running mate and she became the first woman, the first African American and the first Asian American to hold the office. President Joe Biden ended his bid for president on the Democratic ticket in July, and Harris quickly gained enough support as the nominee. The Democratic Party of Illinois endorsed Harris. She accepted the nomination at the DNC in Chicago.
Campaign: kamalaharris.com
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Age: 70
Occupation: Attorney, activist
Political experience: Assistant district attorney for Manhattan, 1983
Party: Independent
Biography and campaign: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign in battleground states but remains on the ballot in Illinois. "RFK," the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, has campaigned on behalf of former President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump
Age: 78
Occupation: Real estate developer
Political experience: U.S. president, 2017-2021
Party: Republican
Biography and campaign: Trump is seeking election for a second term as U.S. president with running mate J.D. Vance. He was born in New York and lives in Florida. He earned a degree from the University of Pennsylvania and built a real estate business before hosting reality TV shows. He was elected president in 2016 and signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that reduced tax rates. He withdrew the U.S. From the Paris Agreement on climate and Iran nuclear deal. He led the country through the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine effort. He was impeached in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and in 2021 for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. He faces ongoing criminal investigations and lawsuits. Trump survived two attempted assassinations on the campaign trail.
Campaign: donaldjtrump.com
U.S. House Illinois' 12th, 13th Districts
Illinois has 17 congressional districts and all U.S. representatives up for election in 2024. Illinois’ 12th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts have voters who live in the 5 On Your Side coverage area. The congressional race in IL-15 is uncontested with incumbent Mary Miller seeking reelection.
Illinois’ 12th Congressional District
IL-12 covers downstate Illinois. In the 5 On Your Side coverage area, it includes Clay, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, Monroe, Randolph and parts of St. Clair counties. The region has been represented by Mike Bost since 2015. It is the most Republican district in Illinois.
Mike Bost
Age: 63
Occupation: Business owner
Political experience: U.S. representative, 2015-present; Illinois state representative, 1995-2015
Party: Republican
Biography and campaign: Bost is from Murphysboro, Illinois, and trained as a firefighter at the University of Illinois. He also served as a Marine. He served in local politics, first in the Illinois State Legislature and then in Illinois' 12th Congressional District. He lists among his priorities protecting the agriculture industry, moving toward energy independence, tax cuts, and increasing health care access and affordability.
Campaign: bostforcongress.com
Brian Roberts
Age: Not provided
Occupation: Attorney
Political experience: Candidate for Illinois 5th District Appellate Court
Party: Democrat
Biography and campaign: Roberts lives in Carbondale, Illinois, where he works as an attorney. He says his foremost priority is giving people the power to make their own health care decisions with their doctor. He would also work to make health care affordable, fight climate change, and fund research into gun violence.
Campaign: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553873409644
Illinois’ 13th Congressional District
IL-13 covers a slender line from Champaign to the Metro East. U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski has served the district since 2023.
Nikki Budzinski
Age: 47
Occupation: Trade unionist
Political experience: U.S. representative, 2023-present
Party: Democrat
Biography and campaign: Budzinski is from Peoria, Illinois, and earned a degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She worked for trade unions for a decade. Turning to politics, she worked with the Pritzker campaign, then as chief of staff of the Office of Management and Budget. Her top campaign issues include protecting workers' rights, preserving access to abortion, and creating Illinois jobs.
Campaign: nikkiforcongress.com
Joshua Loyd
Age: Not provided
Occupation: Precinct committeeman
Political experience: Candidate for Illinois 7th Congressional District, 2022
Party: Republican
Biography and campaign: Loyd is from Murphysboro, Illinois, and earned a degree from the U.S. Military Academy West Point. As a veteran, he prioritizes a strong military. He also supports improving infrastructure, reducing burdens on farmers and reducing the national debt.
Campaign: loydforcongress.com
Advisory questions Illinois weighs in
The Illinois legislature selected three questions for voters, the maximum number allowed on the November ballot. This move by the Democrat-leaning legislature blocked Republicans from submitting other questions to voters, like term limits or redistricting reform. These votes are non-binding and do not always result in new legislation. The nature of the questions may also draw more Democrats to the polls.
Election interference
These statewide questions do not change the law, but may serve as a guide for state lawmakers in future sessions. This question does not define what constitutes as "interference." There are laws in Illinois that prevent anyone, not just candidates, from tampering with voting machines. It's a misdemeanor to refuse to comply with lawful orders from an election authority.
Ballot question: Should any candidate appearing on the Illinois ballot for federal, state or local office be subject to civil penalties if the candidate interferes or attempts to interfere with an election worker's official duties?
3% tax on $1M+ income
Illinois residents pay the second-highest property tax in the U.S. It's not clear how Illinois lawmakers would set up "property tax relief" from this question. Former Gov. Pat Quinn is campaigning for the ballot question, saying the tax would add an additional $4.5 billion in revenue to the state. Critics say it drives people away from Illinois who might be entrepreneurs or capital investors.
Ballot question: Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief?
Reproductive treatment coverage
The Illinois legislature seeks to ask voters if IVF treatments should be covered by health care. Supporters say it would make fertility treatments more accessible to women. Some opponents include religious organizations and "Illinois Right to Life" who morally oppose the creation of additional embryos and feel it "commodifies" having children.
Ballot question: Should all medically appropriate assisted reproductive treatments, including, but not limited to, in vitro fertilization, be covered by any health insurance plan in Illinois that provides coverage for pregnancy benefits, without limitation on the number of treatments?
Exploring separation from Cook County
Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Madison counties may join the list of largely downstate counties that have explored separating from Cook County, which covers most of the Chicago metro, into another state. Twenty-six other counties have approved the same measure. The Illinois legislature and U.S. Congress would need to approve the measure to make it a reality, which is unlikely. Madison County is the most populous county to consider the question to date. Supporters of the measure want a voice on taxes and health care choices separate from the populous and Democratic-leaning Chicago area. Opponents say the measure won't become a reality and is too extreme.