As the field of presidential hopefuls continues to dwindle, the clock is ticking to get set up to cast a ballot in the Illinois primary election on Tuesday.
This seemingly never-ending primary season is a marathon to determine which presidential candidates will land on the ballot come November.
For a refresher on the difference between a caucus and regular primary, click here.
To help you keep track, here’s a handy-dandy list of important dates to remember. In fact, better pull out your iCalendar so you don’t miss any of the political drama.
Feb. 6: If you need a crash course on who wants to represent the Republican Party on the presidential ticket, check out this debate. In case you skip this one, there will be more on Feb. 13 and 25 and March 10.
Feb. 11: Watch the Democrats take their turn debating the issues on your local PBS channel at 8 p.m. After all, you don’t want to miss another GIF-able moment like the Bernie Sanders side eye. If you miss that debate, here’s a schedule of the upcoming Dem debates.
Feb. 16: Last day to register to vote online or by mail, as well as the last day to change your name or address to update your registration. You’ll need your driver’s license or state ID card.
March 3: The Republican presidential candidates duke it out. More details on this and upcoming debates here.
March 6: Watch the Democrats debate the issues on CNN. Details as well as upcoming debate dates here.
March 8: If you couldn’t vote early because you were stuck at work, some polling places are extending their hours until 7 p.m. for the next four days.
March 9th: Going to vote Democrat in Tuesday’s Illinois primary? Don’t know much about the candidates? Here’s your chance to catch up. The Univision-sponsored debate will be aired live in Spanish and simulcast in English on CNN starting at 7:30 p.m.
March 10: Catch the GOP debate on CNN tonight at 7:30 p.m.; afterall, you don’t want to miss any presidential candidate penis talk.
Through March 11: New this election in Chicago is early voting on three college campuses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 11 at University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago State University and Northeastern Illinois University.
Through March 14th (the day before the primary): You blew it and missed the voter registration period, didn’t you? Second chances, my friends. Details about locations and times to do that are here. But be aware that you’ll need to vote at the same time. Don’t forget to bring two forms of ID.
Through March 14th, Part II: Already registered but don’t have time to vote on Election Day? Cross it off your to-do list now. More details here.
March 15: It’s here—the Illinois primary. Time to vote. Still haven’t registered? No problem. Illinois allows you to register on Election Day and cast a ballot. But you can only do it at the polling place assigned based on your home address. To find your polling place, go to chicagoelections.com, hover over the “Voting” tab and click on “Your Voter Information.”
THE SEQUEL
July 18-21: Time to officially crown the GOP candidate running for president at the Republican convention in Cleveland.
July 25-28: Party time for the Democrats in Philadelphia. Up next is—you guessed it—more speeches, more photo ops and more campaigning.
Sept. 26: Now the two nominees go head to head in the first presidential debate. They do it again on Oct. 9 and 19.
SHOWTIME
Nov. 8: Election Day. The day we’ve been waiting for has arrived. Cast a ballot or lose the right to complain about the next president.
@lvivanco | @lvivanco@redeyechicago.com
