Civic Engagement

Democracy only works when everyone participates. Student Leadership and Civic Engagement supports students in using their right to vote, and in actively contributing to their communities. Through resources and programs for voter registration, education, and participation, we support students in making their voices heard and being informed and active citizens.

Upcoming Races

United States – Presidential Election

  • Looking to process the outcomes of the 2020 Presidential Election? Visit go.uic.edu/postelection for programs, resources, and tips.

 

Illinois Consolidated Primary Elections:

  • Voter Registration Deadline (in-person): Tuesday, January 26, 2021
  • Voter Registration Deadline (online): Sunday, February 7, 2021
  • First Day of Early Voting: Monday, February 8, 2021
  • Last Day to Request a Vote-By-Mail Ballot: Thursday, February 18, 2021
  • Consolidated Primary Election: Tuesday, February 23, 2021

 

Illinois Consolidated General Elections:

  • Voter Registration Deadline (in-person): Tuesday, March 9, 2021
  • Voter Registration Deadline (online): Sunday, March 21, 2021
  • First Day of Early Voting: Monday, March 22, 2021
  • Last Day to Request a Vote-By-Mail Ballot: Thursday, April 1, 2021
  • Consolidated Primary Election: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
  • Consolidated General Election: Tuesday, April 6, 2021

 

For more information, visit elections.il.gov

To register or check your registration, visit: vote.uic.edu

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Definitions

Our Civic Engagement work is grounded in the following definitions:

  • “Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivations to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes” (Civic Responsibility in Higher Education, Ehrlich, 2000, p.vi).
  • “Civic learning and democratic engagement means promoting the education of students for engaged citizenship through democratic participation in their communities, respect and appreciation of diversity, applied learning, and social responsibility” (NASPA, https://www.naspa.org/focus-areas/civic-learning-and-democratic-engagement).
  • “Community engagement is collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity” (Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement).

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