Tuesday, Oct. 9, marks the Illinois regular voter registration deadline for citizens who want to vote in the Nov. 6, 2012, Presidential Election.

"There is still time to get registered, but don't miss the deadline," Cook County Clerk David Orr said. "We're seeing a surge in registrations that we hope will only grow before Tuesday."

Monday is Columbus Day and government offices will be closed.

Tuesday, the five suburban Cook County courthouse mini-centers, including courthouses in Markham, Bridgeview and Maywood, will stay open until 8 p.m. So will the Clerk's downtown office (69 W. Washington, Fifth Floor, Chicago). 

Since last Monday, the Clerk's office has received more than 9,000 registrations from suburban voters, bringing the total number of registered voters to 1,373,580. About 45,000 registrations have been processed since the beginning of September.

In 2008, when voter registration peaked at 1,436,210, more than 30,000 registrations were received in the last five days before the deadline.

To qualify to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day (Nov. 6) and a resident of his or her precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Voters who have recently moved must re-register at their new address prior to the deadline. Voters who have changed their name also must re-register.

Voters can register for the first time or update their registration information:

• by filling in an online form 
• by mailing in a voter registration application, which can be downloaded at cookcountyclerk.com/elections/registertovote;
• with an active deputy registrar;
• by visiting the Clerk's downtown or suburban courthouse locations;
• by visiting any Secretary of State's office;
• or by visiting any village hall, township office or library.

The clerk's office will send a voter identification card to each voter after the applications are processed. The card lists each voter's precinct information and voting districts. However, voters do not need a voter ID card to vote. Voters can check their status from the Voter Information Tool atcookcountyclerk.com.  

Prospective voters should bring two pieces of identification to register, including one displaying a current address.

After Oct. 9, voters can register only at the Clerk's office (downtown or suburban courthouses) and must vote at the same time. This grace period runs from Oct. 10 to Nov. 3. Grace period registrants are not allowed to vote at the polls on Election Day or vote at any Early Voting site.

— Information provided by the Cook County Clerk's Office

Read about the new Interactive Smartphone Voter Tool from Clerk David Orr's Office.