News

A busy time for voter registration

A busy time for voter registration

DJ Hawkins (right), chairwoman of the voter services committee, League of Women Voters, Springfield, helps register voters at an event, Springfield IL, Oct. 17, 2026 Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Dahl


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A leading voter-registration group says business is good these days.

“We have had quite a few registration events,” said D.J. Hawkins (pictured, right) of the League of Women Voters of Springfield, “and we have had more people registered to vote this year than in past years, so we are very hopeful that there is going to be really good turnout for the midterm elections on November 3.” Hawkins, chairwoman of the group’s voter services committee, had a table set up at Saturday’s “No Kings” rally in Springfield, adding the group is non-partisan. That is, the League does not champion a particular ideology, regardless of its presence in crowd which may lean one way or another.

“We are here to encourage people to vote, period,” said Hawkins. “We will register anybody that needs to register to vote, anybody that wants to register to vote. We have information about early voting. We have information about what ID’s you need to have in order to vote in Illinois and are here to answer any other questions they may have no matter who they are voting for.”

Recent Headlines

23 hours ago in Sports, Trending

Rays put on the brink of World Series flop by Brewers’ historic 8-run, 2-out surge

Milwaukee became the first team to score eight runs with two outs in a World Series inning, routing the Rays 10-1 on Monday night to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

23 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Jay-Z picks himself to headline the Super Bowl halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Southern California

The man who has helped produce the Super Bowl halftime show is stepping into the spotlight: Jay-Z will headline the show himself. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Monday night that Jay-Z will be the featured performer for the halftime festivities on Feb. 14 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

2 days ago in Entertainment

‘You Can See Everything’ surges with $19.5M at box office; ‘Clayface’ takes No. 1

DC Studios scored a modest, R-rated win with "Clayface," landing a $24 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. But the biggest success story in theaters remained A24's Elizabeth Holmes documentary "You Can See Everything," which pulled in $19.5 million in its first weekend of wide release.

2 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start amid high chocolate prices and affordability concerns

Halloween candy sales are off to a slow start this year as U.S. consumers grapple with high living costs and eye-popping chocolate prices. Halloween candy sales fell 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ, a market research firm.

2 days ago in Features, Trending

‘Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers’ brings artistry to a Halloween tradition

When fall arrives and leaves start changing color, Mike Valladao, a systems engineer at a cybersecurity company, slips into his alter ego, "Farmer Mike," also known as the "Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers."