⏳ Polls close March 17, 7pm
Illinois Primary · March 17, 2026

Muslim civic power
starts at the ballot.

The New Bloc is a nonpartisan voter guide built for Illinois Muslim communities. Candidate scorecards, voting tools, rights guides — everything you need to vote informed on March 17.

📊 See Candidate Scorecards → 🗳️ Build My Ballot
400K+
Muslim Americans in Illinois
5
Key races scored
40+
Endorsements tracked
Mar 17
Election Day 6am–7pm CT
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Check your registration →
Your Voting Toolkit
Everything you need, in one place.

Six tools organized around the questions Muslim voters ask most. Start wherever you are.

Start here
Who should I vote for?
Candidate Scorecards
Detailed, sourced ratings for every major race — U.S. Senate, Congress IL-9, IL-8, IL-2, and IL Comptroller. Scored on Palestine, AIPAC money, immigration, civil rights, and more. Compare candidates side-by-side.
View all scorecards →
Jump to race
🏛️ U.S. Senate (open seat) 🏙️ IL-9 Congress 🏘️ IL-8 Congress 📍 IL-2 Congress 📊 IL Comptroller
What's actually on my ballot?
My Ballot Planner
Enter your address, see your exact races, pick your candidates, and print a pocket ballot card to bring to the polling place.
Build my ballot →
 🌙 Ramadan
Where and when do I vote?
When & Where to Vote
Find your polling place, early voting March 5–16, and everything about voting timing — including Jumu'ah & Ramadan considerations.
Find my polling place →
Am I even registered?
Registration Check
Check your status, register online, or fix your registration. Same-day registration available on Election Day with a valid ID.
Check my registration →
What are my rights at the polls?
My Rights at the Polls
7 things every Muslim voter should know — hijab & niqab, language interpreters, provisional ballots, name mismatches, employer time off, and more.
Know my rights →
What's actually at stake?
Issues Guide
Understand what's on the line — Palestine, immigration, civil rights, healthcare, and climate — and why these matter for Muslim communities in Illinois.
Read the issues guide →
Key Dates & Facts
Know before you go.
📅
Election Day
March 17, 2026
Polls open 6:00am – 7:00pm CT
🗓️
Early Voting
March 5 – 16
All Cook County locations · no lines
📬
Mail Ballot Deadline
March 10
Request by March 10 · return by March 17
🪪
Photo ID Required?
No
IL does not require photo ID for registered voters
🌙
Voting in Ramadan

March 17 falls in the final days of Ramadan 2026 — near the blessed last ten nights. Polls are open 6am–7pm, with Iftar around 6:55pm CT. Early voting runs March 5–16 if you prefer to vote before the most intense stretch.

Ramadan voting guide →
Why This Election
The stakes in 2026.
1
Dick Durbin's Senate seat is open
Illinois will send a new U.S. Senator to Washington — the first time in over 20 years. Three candidates have starkly different records on Palestine, military aid, and civil rights. The Democratic primary winner is heavily favored in November.
2
IL-9 is one of the most-watched races in the country
Jan Schakowsky's open seat has drawn $1.17M+ in AIPAC-linked PAC spending — targeting Muslim and Palestinian-American candidates. Over 400,000 Muslim Americans live in this region.
3
Muslim-American candidates on the ballot
Kat Abughazaleh (IL-9), Junaid Ahmed (IL-8), Bushra Amiwala (IL-9), and Nabeela Syed (IL State Senate) represent a new generation of Muslim civic leadership. The largest slate of Muslim candidates in Illinois history.
⚠️ AIPAC-linked spending alert: Over $1.17M in outside spending reported in IL-9 alone, targeting candidates who support Palestinian human rights. Know who is funding your candidates.
"The Muslim vote in Illinois is not a monolith — it is a movement. March 17 is the moment to show what organized civic power looks like."
The New Bloc · thenewbloc.com
Go deeper
📊 See candidate scorecards 🗳️ Build my ballot 📍 Find my polling place 📋 Read the issues guide